U.    S.    DEPARTMENT    Ub    AGRICUL'I  URE, 

BUREAU  OF  ANIMAL  INDUSTRY— Bulletin  No.  77. 

0.   E.  SALMON,   0.   V.   M.,   Chief  of  Bure«u. 


CATTLE,  SHEEP,  AND  HOG  FEEDING 

IN  EUROPE. 


BY 


WILLARD  JOHN  KENNEDY,  B.  S.  A., 

Professor  of  Animal  Husbandry,  Iowa  Siale  Colle,c;e  of  Agriculture, 
and  Vice-Director  Iowa  Experiment  Station. 


WASHINGTON: 

GOVERNMENT    PRINTING    OFFICE. 

1905. 


ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  BUREAU  OF  ANIMAL  INDUSTRY. 


Chkf:  D.  E.  Salmon,  D.  V.  M. 
Assistant  Chief:  A.  D.  Melvin,  D.  V.  S. 
Chief  Clerk:  E.  B.  Jones,  LL.  M.,  M.  D. 

Dairy  Division:  Ed.  H.  Webster,  M.  S.,  chief;  Clabence  B,  Lane,  B.  S.,  assistant 
chief. 
Inspection  Division:  A.  M.  Farrington,  B.  S.,  D.  V.  M.,  chief. 
Quarantine  Division:  Richard  W.  Hickman,  Ph.  G.,  V.  M.  D.,  chief. 
Editor:  George  Fayette  Thompson,  M.  S. 
Artkl:  W.  S.  D.  Haines. 

Animal  Husbandman:  George  M,  Rommel,  B.  S.  A. 
Librarian:  Beatrice  C.  Oberly. 

laboratories. 

Biochemic  Division:  Marion  Dorset,  M.  D.,  chief. 

Pathological  Division:  John  R  Mohler.  A.  M.,  V.  M.  D.,  chief. 

Zoological  Division:  Brayton  H.  Ransom,  B.  Sc.,  A.  M.,  acting  zoologist. 

experiment  station. 
Superintendent,  E.  C.  Schroeder,  M.  D.  V. ;  expert  assistant,  W.  E.  Cotton. 

INSPECTORS  IN  charge. 


Dr.  F.  W.  Ainsworth,  Union  Stock  Yards,  Pitts- 
burg, Pa. 

Dr.  M.  O.  Anderson,  care  Geo.  A.  Hormel  &  Co., 
Austin,  ^linn. 

Dr.  Don  C.  Ayer,  Post-Office  Building,  South 
Omaha,  Nebr. 

Dr.  G.  S.  Baker,  6th  and  Townsend  sts.,  San  Fran- 
cisco, Cal. 

Dr.  L.  R.  Baker,  South  St.  Joseph,  Mo. 

Dr.  A.  E.  Bchnke,  room  432,  Federal  Building, 
Milwaukee,  Wis. 

Dr.  John  A.  Bell,  Watertown,  N.  Y. 

Dr.  S.  E.  Bennett,  room  338,  Live  Stock  Exchange 
Building.  Kansas  City,  Kans. 

Dr.  E.  L.  Bertram,  care  Tri-City  Packing  Co., 
Davenport,  Iowa. 

Dr.  Fred  Braginton,  care  Continental  Packing  Co., 
Bloomington,  111. 

Dr.  J.  J.  Brougham,  care  Missouri  Stock  Yards, 
St.  Louis,  Mo. 

Dr.  G.  W.  Butler,  care  Drummond  Bros.,  Eau 
Claire,  Wis. 

Dr.  J.  B.  Clancy,  National  Stock  Yards,  111. 

Dr.  L.  Clarke,  room  320  Quincy  Building,  Den- 
ver, Colo. 

Dr.  Charles  Cowie,  Ogdensburg,  N.  Y. 

Dr.  David  Gumming,  912  Lapeer  ave..  Port  Huron, 
Mich. 

Dr.  Robert  Darling,  care  Chas.  S.  Hardy,  San 
Diego,  Cal. 

Dr.  J.  F.  Deadman,  Sault  Ste.  Marie,  Mich. 

Mr.  Albert  Dean,  room  328,  Stock  Yard  Station, 
Kansas  City.  Kans. 

Dr.  F.  L.  De  Wolf,  care  Chas.  Wolff  Packing  Co., 
Topeka,  Kans. 

Dr.  Geo.  Ditcwig,  care  Union  Stock  Yards,  Cin- 
cinnati, Oliio. 


Dr.  E.  P.  Dowd,  care  White,  Pevey  &  Dexter  Co., 
Worcester,  Mass. 

Dr.  Geo.  C.  Faville,  P.  0.  box  796,  Norfolk,  Va. 

Dr.  J.  Wm.  Fink,  care  Swift  &  Co.,  Harrison  Sta- 
tion, Newark,  N.  J. 

Dr.  W.  J.  Fretz,  Rushville,  Nebr. 

Dr.  T.  A.  Geddes,  care  U.  S.  consul,  Loijdon,  Eng- 
land. 

Dr.  H.  H.  George,  507  Johnson  st,  Louisville,  Ky. 

Dr.  W.  H.  Gibbs,  care  Morton-Gregson  Co.,  Ne- 
braska City,  Nebr. 

Dr.  L.  K.  Green,  care  Hammond,  Standish  &  Co., 
Detroit,  Mich. 

Dr.  H.  A.  Hedrick,  215  St.  Paul  St.,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Dr.  O.  B.  Hess,  care  Frye-Bruhn  Co.,  Seattle, 
Wash 

Mr.  G.  S.  Hickox,  P.  O.  box  1145,  Salt  Lake  Citv, 
Utah. 

Dr.  A.  A.  Holcombe,  Aurora,  Dl. 

Dr.  U.  G.  Houck.  care  Swift  &  Co.,  Fort  Worth, 
Tex. 

Dr.  W.  E.  Howe,  care  Western  Packing  Co.,  Den- 
ver, Colo. 

Dr.  Julius  Hudson,  care  Jersey  City  Stock  Yards 
Co.,  Jer,sey  City,  N.  J. 

Dr.  F.  W.  Huntington,  U.  S.  customs  office  wharf, 
G.  T.  R.  R.,  Portland,  Me. 

Dr.  R.  Jay,  care  Jacob  E.  Decker  &  Son,  Ma- 
son City,  Iowa. 

Dr.  G.  A.  Johnson,  Exchange  Building,  Sioux 
City,  Iowa. 

Dr.  James  Johnston,  care  U.  S.  consul,  Liverpool, 
England. 

Dr.  E.  C.  Joss,  care  Carsten's  Packing  Co.,  Ta- 
coma,  Wash. 

Dr.  J.  S.  Kelly,  care  Blomer  &  Michael,  Co., 
Quincy,' 111. 


(Concluded  on  page  3  of  cover.) 


U.   S.    DEPARTMENT    OF   AGRICULTURE, 

BUREAU  OF  ANIMAL  INDUSTRY— Bulletin   No.  77. 

D.   E.  SALMON,   D.   V.   M.,   Ch.ef  of   Buraau. 


CATTLE,  SHEEP,  y\ND  HOG  FEEDING 

IN  EUROPE. 


WILLARD  JOHN  KENNEDY,  B.  S.  A., 

Professor  of  Annual  Husbandry,  /owa  State  Collei^e  of  Agriculture, 
and  Vice-Director  lozva  Experiuwnt  Station. 


WASHINGTON: 

GOVERNMENT     PRINTING     OFFICE. 

19  0  5. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2007  with  funding  from 

IVIicrosoft  Corporation 


http://www.archive.org/details/cattlesheephogfeOOkenniala 


LHTTl'R  OF  TRAN'SMITTAL 


U.  S.  Depaktmknt  or  Acuicn.TrRE, 

Hl'H^:A^  ok  Animai,   Indi  .stry. 

]\'(f.s/,;,u/fo„,  I),  r..  .////y/  /.v.  war,. 

Sir:  I  have  the  honor  to  transmit  herewith  a  manuscript  on  the. 
suhject  of  cattU',  sheep,  antl  hog  feedin*;  in  Ein'ojK'.  by  Wilhinl 
John  Kennedy.  B.  S.  A.,  of  the  Iowa  Colleofe  of  A<rrif'nhnre  and 
Experiment  Station.  I'his  work  represents  the  major  portion  of 
Professor  Kennedy's  labors  as  special  a<j:ent  foi-  this  Hnreau  in 
Europe  during  portions  of  the  years  1J)04  and   IDO."). 

The  investigations  into  European   methods  of   feeding  and   man- 
agement   reported     in    the    accompanying    ])ages    are    particularly 
exhaustive  in  respect  to  cattle,  and  both  the  beef  and  dairy  types 
.receive  an  eipuil  amount  of  attention. 

The  admittedly  high  ([uality  of  English.  Irish,  and  Danish  bacon 
renders  the  chaptei's  dealing  with  the  feeding  of  the  bacon  hog  in 
the  countries  named  of  nuich  interest  to  those  of  our  farmers  who 
are  engaged  in  this  industry. 

In  order  that  our  live-stock  men  may  be  enabled  to  profit  l)v  these 
data.  I  reconnnend  the  publication  of  the  work  as  Bidletin  No.  77 
of  the  Bureau  series. 

RespectfuUv,  D.  E.  Salmon. 

Chief  of  Bureau. 
Hon.  Ja:mes  Wilson. 

Secretary  of  Agriculture. 

3 


CONTENTS 


Page. 

Introduction 7 

Part  I.— Cattle: 

General  aspect  of  the  cattle  industry  in  Europe. .   0 

Conditions  in  the  British  Isles 10 

England 10 

Scotland .  - - 12 

Ireland 13 

Conditions  in  continental  countries - 14 

France - - 14 

Austria-Hungary lo 

Germany "- - - 1  •') 

Switzerland _ .    . H5 

Denmark ,  Holland ,  and  the  Channel  Islands 10 

Beef  and  dual-purpose  cattle — 

Methods  of  feeding  in  England _ .  _ IT 

Feeding  in  Scotland . ~2 

Irish  methods  of  feeding 29 

Feeding  in  France 32 

Feeding  methods  in  Austria-Hungary 3") 

German  feeding  methods -  37 

Dairy  cattle — 

Dairy  methods  in  Great  Britain  and  Ireland — 

England  40 

Scotland 43 

Ireland 47 

Dairy  farming  in  Denmark 4S 

Feeding  methods  in  Holland o") 

Conditions  in  the  Channel  Islands — 

Jersey ^7 

Guernsey  . - 01 

Dairy  feeding  in  France 03 

Dairy  methods  in  Austria-Hungary 0") 

Dairying  in  Germany <»7 

Swiss  dairy  methods 00 

Part  II.— Sheep: 

Sheep  feeding  and  management  in  England 71 

Sheep  rai.<ing  in  Scotland 70 

Sheep  production  in  Ireland ...  8.") 

The  sheej)  indiistry  of  France 80 

Part  III.— Hogs: 

Hog  raising  in  England  ... 88 

Hog  feeding  in  Ireland « 91 

Hog  feeding  in  Denmark 92 

Methods  of  feeding  in  Austria-Hungary 91 

The  hog  industry  of  Germany 9(5 

Hog  raising  in  France 97 


CATTLE,  SHEi:i\  AND  II()(i  FEEDING 
IN  EUROPE. 


r?.v  Wii-LARD  John  Kennkdv.  H.  S.  A.. 

Profrxsor  nf  Aiiiiiial  II usbandrn,  lotra  State  Collri/r  of  Afiricitltiirr  uiid  thr 

Mechanic  Arts,  ami  Vice- Director  loira  JJjiicriiiieiit  Statio)i. 


INTRODUCTION. 

^fany  <joo(l  aiithoritio.'^  hold  the  opinion  that  any  sniM'riority  of 
European  l)ivo(lin<>'  stock  which  nniy  exist  is  <hie  not  so  nnich  to 
climatic  conditions  as  to  feed.  With  this  sufi<ri'>^tion  in  mind  the 
writer  devoted  considerable  time  to  the  study  of  methods  of  feeding 
hreedin*;  animals,  and  found  the  task  a  difficult  one  because  l)reeder- 
often  do  not  wei<>:h  their  feed  and  are  not  always  exact  in  the  com- 
poundint;  of  i-ations.  However,  he  received  many  courtesies,  and  in 
cases  where  the  daily  feed  had  never  before  been  wei<rhed  the  man- 
afjers  oladly  had  this  done  and  records  kept  for  several  days.  For 
the  many  favors  shown  by  the  stockmen  whom  he  visited  and  for  the 
courtesies  of  the  officials  of  departments  of  a^i'iculture  and  Ameri- 
can consuls  the  writer  is  under  <;reat  oblio^ations. 

This  report  is  not  pul)lished  with  the  expectation  that  the  methods 
described  can  be  adopted  without  chan<re  by  American  farmers.  l)ut 
it  is  probable  that  many  of  their  features  may  be  applicable  to  oui- 
conditions. 


PART  I.-(  ATTLE. 

GENERAL  ASPECT  OF  THE  CATTLE  INDUSTRY  IN  EUROPE. 

In  most  Kiii-opeaii  countries  the  cattle  interests  form  one  of  tlic 
most  important  branches  of  tlie  live-stock  industry.  A  very  wide 
ran«2:e  of  feeding;  stuffs  is  used,  and  diversity  of  methods  j)revails 
both  as  repirds  the  comi)oundin<;  of  rations  and  the  ])reparation  of 
feed.  However,  satisfactory  results  are  usually  obtained,  and  the 
methods  employed  ex(>mi)lifv  in  no  innnistakable  mannei-  that  iio 
one  combination  of  feedin*;  stuffs  is  su|)erior  to  all  others  to  i)roduce 
"work,  meat,  milk,  or  uniform  *i:rowth  and  (leveloi)ment.  For  ivasons 
of  economy  the  feeders  of  each  coinitrv  must  use,  as  far  as  ])()ssible. 
the  feeds  whose  production  is  best  adapted  to  the  soil  and  climatic 
conditions  of  that  country,  and  which  can  Ix'  <>r()wn  at  home. 

To  an  Amei-ican  the  strikiiiir  features  of  EuroiM^an  methods  are 
the  lar<>"e  use  made  of  roots,  linseed  and  cotton  cake,  the  larufi'  i)ropor- 
tion  of  rouirha<re  to  concentrates  fed,  the  dependence  j)laced  on  pas- 
ture and  other  <treen  feed,  the  attention  paid  to  the  preparation  of  the 
feed,  and  the  I'll'ort  to  use  everythinir  <rrown  on  the  farm.  Further- 
more, althou<j:h  the  most  intensive  methods  are  used  to  fatten  cattle 
for  market,  the  <ieneral  tendency  amonir  breeders  is  to  maintain 
breeding  stock  in  nood  condition,  but  to  avoid  the  extremely  fleshy 
condition  which  often  leads  to  barrenn(>ss  and  impotency. 

Koots  are  most  extensively  used  in  cattle  j)i"()(luction  in  Fn<rland 
and  Scotland,  and  these  crops  are  very  highly  valued.  They  are  fed 
to  dairy  cattle  as  well  as  to  beef  animals,  biu  when  feedinir  them  to 
milch  cov^s  the  best  dairymen  take  pains  to  avoid  taint inir  the  milk' 
1)V  their  use.  ^Ian<rel-wurzels  (commonly  called  man<jfels  or  man- 
f^olds),  turnips,  and  rutaba<ras  (commonly  called  swedes)  are  usually 
<rr()wn  in  (Ireat  Britain.  In  the  continental  countries.  e>|)ecially  in 
France  and  (lermany,  the  supir  beet  and  suLTar-beet  pulp  are  u>ed. 
In  some  cases  carrots  are  fed.  especially  to  calves,  and  in  the  island  of 
Guernsey  parsnips  are  used. 

0 


10  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL   INDUSTRY. 

CONDITIONS  IX  TIIE  BRITISH  ISLES. 
ENGLAM). 

The  classes  of  English  cattlemen  are  divided  very  much  as  in 
America.  That  is  to  say.  there  are  the  feeders,  who  buj^  all  the  stock 
they  fatten;  the  dairymen;  those  who  combine  beef  production  and 
dairying;  those  who  breed  feeders  only,  and  the  breeders  of  pure- 
bred stock.  Roots,  cake,  hay,  and  straw  constitute  the  basis  of  winter 
rations,  and  a  mixture  of  liilseed  cake  and  cotton  cake,  with  grass  or 
soiling  crops,  is  the  principal  part  of  the  ration  during  the  summer. 
These  rations  are  supplemented  by  a  great  variety  of  grain,  commer- 
cial by-products,  and  proprietary  feeds.  Corn  meal,  bean  meal,  and 
pea  meal  are  all  used  to  some  extent  in  fattening  cattle  or  feeding 
dairy  cows,  but  they  are  not  fed  in  any  quantity  to  young  and  grow- 
ing stock  intended  for  breeding  purposes.  For  these  animals  crushed 
oats,  wheat  bran,  and  cake  are  the  usual  grain  ration.  In  the  central 
and  northern  districts  turnips  and  swedes  are  also  important  crops. 
Mangels  are  better  keepers  than  turnips  and  swedes  and  require  a 
ripening  process  before  they  can  be  fed  to  best  advantage;  for  this 
reason  they  are  usually  retained  for  late  Avinter  and  spring  feeding; 
yellow  and  white  turnips  are  used  during  the  early  fall  months,  and 
swedes  are  available  for  the  late  fall  and  early  winter.  Koots  are  fed 
in  varying  amounts;  some  farmers  use  about  30  pounds,  while  others 
feed  as  high  as  12.5  pounds  per  animal  per  day;  the  majority  feed 
from  50  to  80  pounds  of  roots  per  head  daily.  They  are  usually  fed 
between  8  and  10  a.  m.  and  4  and  0  p.  m. 

The  amount  of  cake  that  is  fed  is  astonishing.  By  this  term  is 
meant  what  we  know  as  '*  cotton-seed  meal  "  and  "  linseed-oil  meal." 
rhey  are  usually  combined  with  other  feeds,  but  may  be  fed  alone, 
especially  during  summer.  Either  or  l)oth  are  used.  For  conven- 
ience these  feeds  are  generally  referred  to  as  "  cake  "  in  the  following 
pages.  This  term  is  strictly  applicable  only  to  the  product  in  the  form 
in  which  it  comes  from  the  presses.  When  sold  on  our  markets  the 
cake  has  usually  been  ground  into  meal,  but  for  convenience  in  export- 
ing this  is  not  usually  done  until  the  cake  reaches  its  destination,  and 
111  many  cases  it  is  merely  broken  into  small  pieces  and  not  ground. 
This  makes  it  more  convenient  to  feed,  especially  when  it  is  thrown 
on  the  grass.  British  farmers  use  large  quantities  of  undecorticated 
cotton  cake,  especially  in  summer  feeding.  This  is  the  cake  obtained 
in  the  process  of  oil  milling  where  the  hulls  are  not  removed  from  the 
seeds.  The  hulls  have  an  astringent  proi)erty  which  is  found  valu- 
able in  counteracting  the  laxative  effect  of  grass.  I^ndecorticated 
cotton-seed  meal  is  practically  unavailable  for  American  feeders. 
The  onlv  seed  which  can  be  economicallv  milled  without  first  having 


CATTLE,  SHEEP,  AND    HOG    FEEDING    IN    EUROPE.  11 

the  hulls  removed  is  that  to  which  no  lint  adheres  in  tjinninir. 
Egyptian  and  Sea  Island  seed  have  this  chaiacteristic.  There  is  no 
Egyptian  seed  milled  in  Anu>rica,  and  Sea  Islan<l  seed  is  a  very  small 
factor.  So  far  as  is  l<nown  to  the  writer  all  American  mills  remove 
the  hulls  as  the  fii-st  step  in  the  milling  process. 

A  ^reat  deal  of  attention  is  ^iven  to  the  preparation  of  feed  in 
En<;land,  especially  for  dairy  cows  and  fattening  cattle.  (Jrain  is 
usually  crushed  or  «i:i'<>iiiMl;  chafKn<r.  or  cuttin*;.  sti-aw  and  hay  is  a 
very  jifeneral  practice.  Koots  are  usually  puljM'd  or  sliced.  In  some 
j)arts  of  En<2:land  farmers  save  all  of  the  chaH'  at  thi-ashin<r  time  and 
put  it  in  a  separate  bin  or  stall  from  the  straw,  so  that  it  may  l)e 
mixed  with  the  jLrrain  and  cake  at  fee(lin«r  time.  This  i>revents  the 
animals  fi-om  l)()ltin<r  the  «2:rain  and  makes  more  complete  mastication 
j)ossil)le.  Many  <><)od  feeders  mix  cut  straw  or  hay.  i)ulped  roots,  and 
the  ixrain  and  cake  to<rether  before  feeding.  Some  feeders  moisten  all 
such  feed  with  boiling  water.  While  these  people  have  not  <ri^■en 
much  attention  to  the  study  of  the  **  l)alanced  ration."  they  all  feed 
special  rations  for  special  purposes. 

Breeders  strive  to  follow  natural  methods  of  feeding  as  nearly  as 
])ossil)le.  The  use  of  hiijhly  concentrated  feeds  is  limited  and  the 
use  of  forcing  rations  is  dei)l()red  as  being  very  injurious  to  future 
usefulness.  In  the  opinion  of  the  most  successful  breeders,  forcing 
rations,  while  they  may  make  the  animal  attractive  to  the  eye.  are 
very  likely  to  weaken  the  constitution,  reduce  vigor,  and  exert  an 
unfav()ral)le  influence  on  fertility.  The  general  custom  is  to  utilize 
grass,  roots,  and  other  natural  feeds  and  to  keep  the  animals  out  of 
doors  or  in  ()j)en  sheds  the  greater  {portion  of  the  time.  In  discussing 
his  methods  of  feeding,  one  of  England's  most  noted  present-day 
Shorthorn  breeders,  a  man  who  stables  only  his  herd  l)ulls  anil  young 
calves,  everything  else  being  fed  in  ojM'n  yards  or  open  sheds,  said: 

The  only  cattle  to  which  I  feed  artificial  feeds  and  forcing  rations  are  those 
intended  for  sale.  I>e<"iuse  many  hnyers  will  not  hny  an  animal  in  the  roufrh. 
It  is  nuich  easier  to  sell  an  inferior  fat  animal  than  a  j^ood  one  in  a  ron^h  coat 
and  thin  llesl).  By  adoptinj;  this  method  of  feedinir.  my  l>est  animals  remain  on 
the  farm  wliere  I  want  them.  Yomij:  heifers  fed  in  this  manner  develop  into 
nseful  hreedinir  cows,  and  matnre  cows  fe<l  on  natnral  feeds  and  kejtt  out  of 
doors  invariahly  rear  a  jjood  stronf^  calf  each  ye;ir.  Furthermore,  since  adoj)!- 
ing  tliis  method  of  feedinir  and  manajiement  I  have  never  had  any  occasion  to 
dread  tlie  visit  of  the  T'nite<l  States  (Jovernment  veterinary  inspector,  as  he 
seldom  finds  an  animal  which  reacts. 

The  methods  of  feeding  and  management  practiced  on  the  farm  of 
thjs  breeder  prevail  on  nearly  all  tiie  best  l)reeding  farms  in  the 
southern  and  central  j)arls  of  England.  In  the  north  of  England 
breeders,  as  a  rule,  keeji  their  aninuils  in  warmer  l)uildings.  l)ut  even 
there  the  cattle  remain  out  of  doors  several  hours  each  fine  day  during 
the  winter  months. 


12  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

SCOTLANB. 

The  farmers  in  all  parts  of  Scotland  are  dependent  in  a  large 
measure  upon  some  phase  of  the  cattle  industry.  This  is  true  of  those 
districts  where  the  land  is  rough  and  not  suited  to  cultivation,  but  it 
applies  even  more  forcibly  to  the  highly  arable  sections,  where  the 
annual  land  rents  in  some  instances  reach  $15  per  acre.  In  the  pro- 
duction of  cattle  the  Scottish  live-stock  men — under  which  term  we 
must  include  every  Scottish  fanner,  because  the  Scot,  to  all  a])pear- 
ances,  is  born  with  a  love  for  and  a  knowledge  of  live  stock — have 
devoted  their  attentions  to  the  development  of  the  special  l>eef  and 
dairy  breeds  rather  than  the  combination  beef  and  milk  animals. 

Turnips  and  swedes  are  the  principal  roots  fed,  and  they  constitute 
a  large  part  of  the  fall  and  winter  rations  for  beef  cattle.  The 
amount  fed  varies  a  great  deal,  being  greatest  in  the  north  of  Scot- 
land, where  some  feeders  who  are  feeding  3-year-old  steers  givv.* 
as  much  as  150  to  200  pounds  per  head  per  day.  In  the  south  of 
Scotland  more  grain  and  cake  and  smaller  quantities  of  roots  are  fed. 
Yellow  turnips  are  grown  very  extensively  for  breeding  cattle,  but 
swedes  are  preferred  for  fattening  purposes.  Roots  grown  in  the 
north  of  Scotland  are  thought  to  have  greater  feeding  value  than 
those  produced  in  the  south. 

The  root  crop  is  to  the  Scotch  farmer  what  the  corn  crop  is  to  the 
feeder  in  the  American  corn  belt.  The  Scotch  feeders  are  so  accus- 
tomed to  the  use  of  swedes  that  they  can  hardly  believe  that  cattle 
can  be  made  fat  during  the  winter  season  on  a  ration  which  does  not 
contain  at  least  a  half  hundredweight  of  them.  "While  they  some- 
times change  the  roughage  and  concentrated  feed  in  the  rations,  they 
never  leave  out  the  roots. 

The  "  natural  "  methods  used  in  England  prevail  in  Scotland,  par- 
ticularly in  the  management  of  mature  cows.  They  are  fed  simply 
and,  therefore,  economically.  A  fair  amount  of  flesh  adds  to  a  cow's 
appearance  and  has  a  commercial  importance  when  her  calves  are 
offered  for  sale,  but  the  Ijest  breeders  endeavor  to  avoid  excessive  fat, 
especially  after  a  cow  has  had  several  calves,  when  she  may  become  a 
••  shy  *'  Ijreeder  if  allowed  to  become  fat.  Scotch  breeders  of  beef 
cattle  encourage  young  stock  to  develop  early  maturing  (jualities.  par- 
ticularly in  Aberdeen-Angus  and  Shorthorn  districts,  and  Galloway 
breeders  are  now  using  more  liberal  methods  of  feeding.  As  these 
breeds  are  bred  almost  entirely  for  beef  production,  the  tendency  to 
take  on  flesh  rapidly  and  mature  at  an  early  age  is  regarded  as  the 
most  important  point  to  be  considered. 

In  fattening  cattle  and  feeding  dairy  cows  a  great  deal  of  attention 
is  given  to  the  preparation  of  the  feed.  All  grain  is  finely  ground, 
much  of  the  straw  and  hav  cut.  and  on  manv  farms  the  roots  are 


CATTLE,  SHEEP,  AND    HOG    FEEDING    IN    EUROPE.  13 

sliced.  It  is  a  very  coininon  practice  to  mix  all  of  the  <rniiii  aiul  cake 
with  cut  r()U<;hafje  an<l  pulped  roots,  and  allow  the  mixture  to  stand 
several  hours  bct'orc  fcediu/;.  On  iiuiny  farms  this  feed  is  cither 
cooked  or  scaldod  with  boiling  water.  From  what  could  Ih»  learned 
from  the  feeders,  cooking  and  st^'aminfj:  is  not  so  fjenerally  practiced 
as  in  foi-mer  years;  the  work  involves  a  great  deal  of  lai)or.  and  the 
results  from  uncooked  feed  are  sjiid  to  be  quite  as  satisfactory.  The 
])revailin«;  custom  ai)pears  to  be  to  feed  rather  snuiU  allowances  at 
frefpient  intervals. 

Scotch  farmers  are  not  only  good  live-stock  feeders,  but  they  are 
also  g(K)d  feeders  of  the  soil,  and  they  believe  that  the  most  effective 
and  economical  method  of  feeding  the  soil  is  through  the  medium  of 
live  stock.  In  all  cattle-feeding  operations,  especially  on  the  arable 
farms,  the  feeder  considers  both  the  direct  profits  of  feeding  and  the 
value  of  the  manure,  which  is  all  saved  and  applied  to  the  soil. 

Ireland. 

According  to  the  most  recent  census  reports,  there  are  4.077,182 
head  of  cattle  in  Ireland,  or  one  animal  for  every  A.'M'}  acres  of  land 
in  the  entire  country,  wliich  is  a  much  larger  number  of  cattle  jx'r 
1,000  acres  of  land  than  is  to  be  found  in  any  other  part  of  the  United 
Kingdom  or  in  continental  Europe.  Though  the  country  is  small  the 
cattle  interests  are  not  by  any  means  restricted  to  one  special  line, 
but  cover  a  wide  field,  including  special  dairy  farming,  beef  farming, 
cattle  feeding,  and  the  production  of  store  cattle  for  feeding.  The 
most  extensive  branches  of  the  industry  are  the  production  of  store 
cattle  and  dairy  farming.  The  breeding  of  purebred  cattle,  esj^e- 
cially  of  the  beef  breeds,  is  now  becoming  important.  Although  the 
winter  feeding  of  cattle  for  beef  production  is  carried  on  in  some  dis- 
tricts, it  has  not  as  yet  received  very  much  attention.  Few  countries 
afford  so  many  natural  advantages  as  Ireland  from  the  stan<lpoint 
of  gi'owing  breeding  cattle  and  those  intended  for  store  purposes. 
More  than  80  per  cent  of  the  entire  country  is  under  grass  for  either 
grazing  or  hay  purposes.  In  addition,  there  is  an  abundance  of  rain 
at  all  seasons  of  the  year,  wliich  in  connecticm  with  the  mild  climate, 
especially  in  the  central  and  southern  districts,  renders  it  jjossible  for 
animals  to  obtain  the  greater  portion  of  their  feed  from  i)asture 
during  the  winter  season. 

The  quality  of  the  grass  is  usually  good,  containing  as  it  does  a 
high  percentage  of  those  nutrients  which  are  so  necessary  to  the 
proper  development  of  the  young  and  gi'owing  animal.  This  is 
especially  true  of  the  ash  constituents,  and  more  particularly  in 
regard  to  the  lime  content;  a  limestone  soil  prevails  in  practically 
every  part  of  the  country.     The  Irish  farmers  are  firm  believers  in 


14  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

allowing^  nature  to  have  her  way,  as  rather  than  to  cultivate  the  soil 
they  choose  to  have  their  animals  gather  their  feed  in  the  form  of 
grass.  Irehind  is  a  veritable  grass  country.  The  principal  grain 
crop  is  oats,  hut  barley,  rye,  peas,  Avheat.  and  beans  are  all  grown  in 
a  more  or  less  limited  way.  A  rather  large  percentage  of  the  culti- 
vated land  is  utilized  in  the  growing  of  potatoes  and  root  crojjs,  both 
of  which,  especially  the  root  crops,  are  used  for  cattle  feeding. 
Clover  also  grows  well,  but  the  greater  portion  of  the  hay  crop  is 
composed  of  mixed  grasses. 

CONDITIONS    IN    CONTINENTAL    COUNTRIES. 
France. 

The  soil  and  climate  of  France  are  favorable  for  crop  growing,  and 
farmers  have  a  wide  range  of  feeding  stuffs  at  their  command.  Cat- 
tle raising  is  carried  on  in  all  parts  of  the  country.  The  greatest 
number  of  cattle  are  to  be  found  in  the  northern  departments  and 
the  methods  of  feeding  and  management  Avhich  j^revail  there  are 
very  much  in  advance  of  those  which  obtain  in  other  parts  of  F'rance. 
Although  France  can  lav  claim  to  having  more  than  thirty  breeds  of 
cattle,  there  is  not  much  diversity  of  type  among  them.  To  all  ap- 
pearances the  characteristics  which  dilferentiate  the  various  breeds 
are  based  more  on  color,  marking,  and  locality  than  on  type.  The 
typical  beef  animal  as  seen  in  Great  Britain  or  America  is  rarely 
found  Avithin  the  borders  of  France.  The  chief  exception  to  this  is 
to  be  found  in  a  feAv  of  the  British  breeds  Avhich  have  been  imported 
into  France,  but  even  these  soon  lose  their  original  tj'pe.  This  is  no 
doubt  due  to  the  fact  that  all  animals  are  bred  and  maintained  for  at 
least  two  ])urposes — beef  and  milk — and  in  many  instances  for  labor 
as  well. 

Unlike  some  continental  countries,  France  is  not  confined  to  one 
general  method  of  feeding  her  cattle.  In  the  various  parts  of  the 
country,  and  to  a  certain  extent  within  the  same  districts,  two,  three, 
or  even  more  rather  distinct  means  of  accomi^lishing  the  same  end 
are  pursued.  This  is  especially  true  of  the  sunnner  methods.  In 
some  districts,  in  fact  more  or  less  all  over  the  country,  the  animals 
are  grazed,  while  the  use  of  soiling  crops  in  connection  with  yard  or 
stable  feeding  is  very  common  and  the  system  of  tethering  cows  is 
very  much  in  evidence.  In  all  parts  of  the  country  a  great  deal  of 
alfalfa  and  clover  are  grown.  Corn  is  grown  in  the  southern  section 
and  the  connnon  grains,  grasses,  and  root  crops  are  to  be  seen  on 
every  hand.  Silage,  especially  that  made  from  alfalfa  and  clover. 
is  used  on  some  farms  and  stands  in  very  high  favor.  The  growing 
of  beets  for  sugar  production  furnishes  a  large  amount  of  beet  pulp 
for  feeding.     The  i)ractice  of  frequent  feeding  prevails  in  all  parts 


CATTLE,  SHEEP,  AND    HOG   FEEDING    IN    EUROPE.  15 

of  the  country.  All  kinds  of  grain  are  ground  or  crushed,  and  in 
some  instances  steamed  (►r  cooked  before  being  given  to  the  animals. 
Some  fai-mcrs  cut  and  chafl"  roughage  and  even  soak  or  steam  it.  but 
the  n»ore  general  custom  is  to  feed  it  in  its  natural  form. 

AlSTRIA-!Il  X(iAKV. 

Austria-IIiHigarv  is  a  very  productive  country  and  on  account  of 
its  varied  soil  and  climatic  conditions  j)ractically  all  kinds  of  forage 
crops  are  grown  in  large  (juantitics.  In  few.  if  any.  of  the  othci- 
continental  coinitries  is  more  attention  given  to  the  feeding  of  cattle. 
The  greater  portion  of  the  cattle  belong  to  the  silver-gray  and  other 
native  breeds,  but  the  Sinnuenthal  breed  of  Switzerland  is  also  bred 
m  many  sections.  All  of  these  breeds  are  claimed  to  l)e  dual-purjiose 
aninuils.  but  the  Sinnuenthal  cattle  show  a  strong  inclination  to  the 
l)eef  tyj)e.  while  the  silver-gray  and  many  other  native  i)reeds  show 
unmistakable  evidence  of  being  high-class  dairy  animals.  In  some 
])arts  of  the  country  cattle  are  used  for  labor,  but  the  greater  portion 
ai-e  bred  antl  reared  for  i)eef  or  dairying,  esjjecially  for  the  latter  pur- 
pose. More  or  less  attention  is  given  to  the  growing  of  beef  and  the 
fattening  of  cattle  in  all  parts  of  the  country,  but  the  mountains  and 
grazing  districts  are  especially  used  for  this  purpose. 

Germ  ANY. 

Although  grain  farming  and  sugar-l)eet  production  occupy  the 
foremost  place  in  (lernuin  agriculture,  the  production  of  live  stock 
is  practiced  to  a  certain  extent  throughout  the  entii'e  country.  Cattle 
are  bred  and  maintained  for  meat  and  milk  purposes  and  the  dual- 
purpose  type  is  used  almost  entirely.  It  is  the  general  i)ractice 
throughout  all  j)arts  of  (iermany.  excejit  the  northern,  to  stable  or 
yard  feed  the  cattle  during  the  greater  i)ortion.  if  not  all.  of  the  year. 
In  the  northern  j)art.  where  the  land  is  not  so  valuable,  they  are 
pastured  during  the  grass  season.  With  these  conditions  prevailing 
the  summer  visitor  to  (iermany  is  very  likely  to  obtain  a  wrong 
impression  of  the  live-stock  interests  unless  he  makes  sj)ecial  \isits 
to  the  farm  buildings.  Otherwise  he  might  travel  for  miles  and 
never  see  cattle  of  ary  kind.  The  (lermau  farmer  considers  it  a 
wasteful  practice  to  use  land  for  grazing.  By  a  well-planned  sv>- 
tem  t)f  soiling  he  is  able  tf  carry  a  large  number  of  cattle  on  a  \"erv 
small  area  of  ground,  and  the  renuiinder  of  his  small  farm  is  avail- 
able for  the  production  of  grain  and  root  cr()i)s. 

A  variety  of  feeding  stuffs  is  used.  Leguminous  crops  are  vei-y 
connnonly  grown,  clover  being  grown  in  all  parts  of  (Terniany.  while 
alfalfa  is  confined  more  to  the  southern  and  central  districts.  Corn 
,">l.>4— No.  77— u.->  M 2 


16  BUREAU    OF   ANIMAL   INDUSTRY. 

is  grown  for  fodder  only.  Grain  is  always  fed  in  moderate  allow- 
ances. Considerable  attention  is  given  to  the  preparation  of  rations, 
and  the  practice  of  frequent  feeding  is  quite  prevalent,  especially 
on  the  dairy  farms. 

Switzerland. 

Swiss  cattle  are  kept  for  milk,  beef,  and  labor.  Practically  all  of 
them  belong  to  the  two  native  breeds — the  Brown  Swiss  and  the 
vSimmenthal — both  of  which  are  to  be  found  in  America.  Dairy 
farming  is  conducted  to  a  certain  extent  in  all  parts  of  the  country, 
but  beef  is  not  produced  in  large  quantities,  the  demand  being  largely 
supplied  by  beef  imported  from  Italy  and  other  countries.  Cows, 
bulls,  and  oxen  are  used  for  labor. 

The  cattle  are  fed  on  very  simple  rations,  running  on  pasture  or 
being  soiled  in  summer,  and  subsisting  mainly  on  roughage  during 
the  winter.  Owing  to  the  limited  amount  of  grain  grown,  concen- 
trated feed  is  not  used  to  any  extent.  In  the  more  fertile  valleys 
cows  are  stabled  during  the  entire  year.  Calves  usually  run  with  the 
dams  until  weaned,  but  in  some  cases  they  are  raised  on  skim  milk 
or  sweet  whey  with  grain  and  green  feed,  or  are  sold  as  veal  without 
other  feed  than  the  dam's  milk  or  milk  from  the  pail.  In  the  latter 
case  whole  milk  is  fed  for  about  two  weeks,  after  which  skim  milk 
gradually  replaces  it. 

Bulls  which  have  outlived  their  usefulness,  cows  which  are  unprof- 
itable in  the  dairy  or  too  old  too  breed,  and  worn-out  oxen  are 
usually  used  for  beef.  If  fed  during  the  summer,  they  have  nothing 
but  grass;  in  the  winter  they  have  roughage  as  the  principal  feed, 
with  a  small  grain  allowance. 

In  some  parts  of  the  country  it  is  customary  for  all  the  cows  in  a 
valle}'  to  be  taken  to  the  mountains  for  the  summer,  often  to  an 
altitude  of  6,000  or  7,000  feet.  The  men  in  charge  remain  with 
them,  milk  them,  and  make  cheese  from  the  milk. 

Although  high-pressure  feeding  is  entirely  unknown  in  Switzer- 
land, and  the  methods  used  tend  to  develop  coarseness,  the  cattle  are 
usually  healthy  and  vigorous. 

Denmark.  Holland,  and  the  Channel  Islands   (Jersey  and  Guernsey). 

Practicalh'  all  the  cattle  in  these  countries  are  strictly  dairy  bred, 
dairying  being  the  principal  live-stock  industry.  The  discussion  of 
the  conditions  in  these  places  will  be  found  under  the  head  of  Dairy 
Cattle. 


CATTLE,  SHEEP,  AND   HOG   FEEDING   IN   EUROPE.  17 

BEEF  AND   DUAIi-PURPOSE    CATTLE. 
METHODS   OF   FEEDINMS    IN    ENGLAND. 
FEEDING    VOL' NO    STOCK. 

The  niothods  of  English  hrceders  have  many  points  of  similarity 
willi  tliose  in  America.  Voiin*;  hulls  are  allowed  to  suckle  the  dams 
anil  are  taught  to  eat  as  soon  as  possihle.  The  rations  are  naturally 
composed  of  grain,  hay,  and  roots.  Young  hulls  are  fed  to  somewhat 
higher  condition  than  heifers,  the  latter  having  little  if  any  grain 
or  cake  hefore  weaning  and  the  suckling  period  for  them  usually 
heing  shorter.  Heifers  are  usually  given  plenty  of  fresh  air  and 
exercise. 

Jireeders  of  dual-purpose  cattle  very  rarely  allow  their  young 
stock  to  snckle.  Bull  calves  are  fed  on  whole  milk  or  on  a  gruel  of 
whole  milk  or  skim  milk  with  flaxseed  meal,  corn  meal,  or  oatmeal. 
As  they  grow  older  harley  meal,  cotton  cake,  roots,  and  hay  are  added 
to  the  ration  and  the  milk  decreased.  A  rather  fleshy  condition  is 
usually  sought  for. 

Dual-purpose  heifer  calves  are  fed  on  skim  milk  and  grain  rations, 
and  large  amounts  of  proprietary  calf  foods  are  used.  Skim-milk 
rations  are  usually  prepared  by  boiling  the  grain  in  water  and  adding 
to  the  milk  while  still  hot. 

FEEDING    BEEF    BREEniXO    COWS. 

Cows,  especially  when  they  are  not  in  milk,  are  fed  on  very  light 
rations.  Dry  cows  are  maintained  on  grass  alone  during  the  summer 
and  on  grass,  hay,  straw,  and  roots  during  the  winter.  The  amount 
of  roots  fed  is  limited,  as  some  cows  are  inclined  to  take  on  too  much 
flesh  when  fed  large  quantities  of  them. 

(rood  breeders  do  not  feed  grain  or  cake  to  dry  cows  except  in  the 
case  of  a  cow  badly  out  of  condition  or  very  old,  when  a  small  amount 
may  be  given.  On  some  farms  dry  cows  are  not  fed  roots,  l)eing 
maintained  solely  on  hay  and  the  run  of  a  grass  lot  for  several  hotu's 
each  day.  While  cows  managed  in  this  way  are  rather  thin  in  flesh 
and  very  rough  in  their  coats,  they  are  regular  breeders  and  their 
calves  connnand  high  prices.  As  calving  time  api)r()a('hes  better 
rations  are  fed,  crushed  oats,  linseed,  and  wheat  bran  IxMng  generally 
used.  The  amount  of  roots  fed  is  small  until  about  ten  days  after 
the  calf  is  dropped. 

At  calving  time  many  breeders  feed  warm  bran  mashes,  and  some 
give  tepid  water  for  drinking  purposes  initil  the  cow  has  regained 
her  normal  condition. 


18  BUREAU    OF   ANIMAL   INDUSTRY. 


FKKDING   BREEl)l.\(i    lUI.I.S. 


The  breeders  of  both  beef  and  dual-purpose  cattle  maintain  breed- 
ing bulls  in  fairly  high  condition.  The  commercial  end  of  the  busi- 
ness renders  it  almost  necessary  for  the  breeder  to  practice  methods 
of  feeding  which  he  well  knows  are  not  good  for  the  sire,  but  sales 
of  young  stock  are  more  readily  made  if  there  is  a  well-conditioned 
bull  at  the  head  of  the  herd.  However,  there  are  some  exceptions  to 
this,  and  on  some  of  the  best  farms  the  most  valuable  sires  are  main- 
tained in  rather  low  condition.  In  these  cases  only  the  usefulness  of 
the  bulls  is  considered,  and  in  the  majority  of  such  instances  these 
sires  are  animals  of  established  reputation  and  their  offspring  are 
eagerly  sought  for. 

The  rations  used  for  young  bulls  are  composed  of  some  kind  of 
hay  (clover  preferred),  roots,  and  a  mixture  of  crushed  oats,  wheat 
bran,  and  linseed  cake,  equal  parts  by  weight :  crushed  oats,  ground 
barley,  and  wheat  bran,  equal  parts  by  weight,  or  ground  barley, 
wheat  bran,  and  linseed  cake,  equal  parts  by  weight.  The  amounts 
range  during  the  winter  from  30  to  00  pounds  of  roots  and  from  G  to 
12  pounds  of  grain,  with  what  hay  the  animal  Avill  eat  up  clean. 
The  summer  rations  include  about  the  same  grain  rations,  Avith  hay 
and  grass  or  other  forage  crops.  In  some  instances  breeders  feed 
corn  meal  and  cotton  cake,  but  in  the  opinion  of  many  both  of  these 
feeds  should  be  omitted  from  the  ration  of  the  young  breeding  bull. 

The  rations  for  mature  bulls  are  much  the  same  as  those  for  young 
bulls.  The  amount  of  roots  fed  varies  from  40  to  80  pounds  per  day. 
The  amount  of  grain  fed  varies  with  the  condition  of  the  bull  and  the 
amount  of  service  required.  In  some  instances  as  high  as  l.")  pounds 
per  day  are  given  during  the  breeding  season.  Bulls  which  are  re- 
quired to  do  regular  service  throughout  the  year  are  fed  from  G  to  9 
pounds  of  grain  per  day.  Those  which  are  used  heavily  for  a  short 
time  and  then  not  used  at  all  for  several  months  receive  little  or  no 
grain  during  the  months  they  are  not  used. 


FATTEMNG    CATTLE    TOR    MARKET. 


Cattle  feeding  is  practiced  to  a  certain  extent  in  all  parts  of  Eng- 
land. In  addition  to  home-grown  animals,  store  cattle  of  l)oth  Irish 
and  Scotch  breeding  are  fed  in  considerable  numbers.  Grass  is  used 
very  largely  in  fattening,  especially  in  those  districts  where  rents  are 
not  too  high. 

The  bulk  of  hay  and  straw  is  fed  long,  but  a  considerable  amount 
is  cut  and  mixed  with  cake  and  grain.  Some  feeders. ])ulp  all  roots 
fed.  l)ut  the  more  general  ])ractice  is  to  feed  them  Avhole.  Cattle 
which  are  teething  are  sometimes  given  pulped  or  sliced  roots,  but 


CATTLE,  SHEEP,  AND   HOG    FEEDING    IN    EUROPE.  V.) 

oil  many  farms  no  <-han«r<'  •>*  made.  Fiv(|ii('nt  feodinj?  prevails.  Tlu' 
geiK'iuil  tcinU'iicv  in  all  parts  of  the  coiiiitrv  is  to  mai'kct  cattle  at  a 
much  earlier  a<j:e  than  in  formei"  yeai's.  hut  the  i)i*o(liictioii  of  l>al)v 
heef  is  verv  limited  in  extent,  and  conlined  almost  solely  to  Ilereford- 
>hire  or  other  localities  where  Hereford  cattle  are  hred. 

KATTKMN<;    CATTr.K    I>t  UINc;    KM. I,    AM)    WI.NTKR. 

Although  the  feodin<r  of  heef  cattle  is  not  always  profitable  from 
the  standpoint  of  the  piins  j)r()diiced.  the  manure  obtained  is  a  valu- 
able asset  to  the  English  farmer,  esjx'cially  where  large  <juantities  ^f 
cake  are  fed.  In  general  there  is  not  a  very  marked  diHerenc*'  in 
methods.  Cattle  are  fed  in  stalls  or  in  yards.  The  amount  of  roots 
fed  |)er  day  varies  from  -U)  to  100  pounds  per  head,  according  to  the 
amount  of  gi'ain  and  cake  us<'d.  The  amount  of  concentrates  varies 
fi'om  <■)  to  1.")  pounds  per  animal  per  day.  but  the  majority  of  feeders 
use  from  10  to  \'2  j)ounds  for  animals  on  full  feed.  As  a  rule,  the 
most  successful  feeders  take  four  months  or  moi'e  to  get  theii-  ani- 
iiials  on  full  feed.  The  cattle  are  put  in  the  feed  yards  or  stalls  any 
time  from  the  first  of  October  until  the  middle  of  November,  and 
they  are  mai'keted  from  the  first  of  March  imtil  the  middle  of  June; 
after  that  time  grass-fed  cattle  are  very  uuich  in  evidence.  The 
feeding  period  varies,  therefore,  from  one  hundred  and  twenty  to 
aI)out  two  huncbvd  days. 

To  a  ])erson  who  has  been  accustomed  to  the  methods  of  cattle 
feeding  which  i)revail  in  the  American  corn  belt  the  grain  rations 
fed  by  the  English  feeders  look  \'ery  small,  but  the  gains  nuide  by 
the  cattle  are  fully  as  great  as  tliose  obtained  by  the  most  succe-sful 
American  feeders,  a  fact  which  demonstrates  that  the  English 
method  of  feeding  uuist  insure  more  thorougli  digestion  of  the  grain 
and  cake,  or  the  roots  must  furnish  more  nourishment  than  the 
chemical  analyses  would  seem  to  indicate.  The  following  rations 
are  representative  <;f  those  in  use: 

Fdi'iii  Xo.  1. — This  farm  is  located  in  the  south  of  England,  in 
Sussex,  and  the  manager  is  said  to  be  one  of  the  most  successful 
feeders  in  his  district.  Thi>  I'atiou  was  being  i^^A  in  -buiuary  to 
cattle  which  had  l)een  on  feed  since  the  first  of  October:  Mixed  hay. 
I.")  poinuls:  oat  chatl".  4  ])ounds:  mangels.  :^()  pounds:  linseed  cake. 
:>  pounds:  cotton-seed  cake.  '.\  j)ounds:  ground  l)ai'lev.  :'>  |)()unds: 
crushed  oats.  2  pounds:  and  corn  meal.  '^  pounds.  The  cake  and  meal 
were  fed  morning  and  evening  with  the  oat  clialf.  The  niixe(l  hay 
was  fed  in  the  early  morning,  in  the  aftei-noon.  and  the  last  thing 
at  night,  while  the  roots  were  fed  about  i>  o'clock  in  the  forenoon. 


20 


BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL   INDUSTRY. 
Ration  for  steers  fed  in  Sussex,  England. 


Feeding  stuff. 

Quan- 
tity. 

Dry 
matter. 

Digesti- 
ble pro- 
tein. 

Digesti- 
ble car- 
bohy- 
drates. 

Digesti- 
ble fat. 

Nutri- 
tive 
ratio. 

Pounds. 

15 
4 

30 
3 
3 
3 
2 
3 

Pounds. 
13.065 
3.428 
2.730 
2.734 
2.754 
2.673 
1.780 
2.673 

Pounds. 

0.885 
.060 
.330 
.879 

1.116 
.261 
.184 
.237 

Pounds. 

6.135 

1.320 

1.620 

.981 

.507 

1.968 

.946 

2.001 

Pounds. 
0.180 

.028 
.030 
.210 
.366 
.048 
.084 
.129 

Oatchaflf 

Mangels 

Linseed  cake 

Cotton-seed  cake 

Ground  barley 

Crushed  oats 

Corn  meal 

31.827 

3.952 

15.478 

1.075 

1:4.0) 

FarTTi  No.  £. — This  farm  is  located  in  Norfolk,  one  of  the  leading 
beef-producing  districts  of  England.  The  manager  always  feeds  a 
large  number  of  cattle  during  the  fall  and  winter  months.  They  are 
purchased  in  September  or  early  in  October  and  are  given  the  run  of 
a  grass  lot  for  six  weeks,  during  which  time  they  are  taught  to  eat 
white  turnips  and  cake.  The  amount  of  cake  is  gradually  increased 
so  that  at  the  end  of  the  six  weeks  they  are  eating  from  6  to  8  pounds 
of  grain  per  head  daily.  Cattle  on  full  feed  receive  12  pounds  of 
mixed  hay,  5  pounds  of  oat  straw,  TO  pounds  of  swedes,  3  pounds  of 
cotton-seed  cake,  3  pounds  of  linseed  cake,  and  3  pounds  of  ground 

barley. 

Ration  for  steers  fed  in  Xorfolk.  England. 


Feeding  stuff. 


Quan- 
tity. 


Digesti- 
ble car- 
bohy- 
drates. 


Digesti-;   ^f 


Pounds. 

12 
5 

70 
3 
3 
3 

Pounds. 
10.452 
4.540 
7.00) 
2.7,54 
2.724 
2.673 

Pounds. 

0  708 
.060 
.700 

1.116 
.879 
.261 

Pounds. 
4.903 
1.930 
5.600 
.507 
.981 
1.968 

Pounds. 
0.144    . 
.040    . 
.140    . 
.366  1. 
.210    . 
.048    . 

Oat  straw _ 

Swedes 

Cjtton-seed  cake                            

Linseed  cake 

Ground  barlev 

30.  US 

3.724 

15.894 

.948  : 

1 

1:4.  ."4 

Farm  No.  3. — This  farm  is  located  in  the  north  of  England,  in 
Xorthumberland.  SAvedes  are  used  in  large  quantities — from  00  to 
100  pounds  per  animal  being  fed  daily.  For  roughage  mixed  hay  and 
oat  straw  are  used;  as  a  rule  about  half  and  half  of  each  are  fed.  but 
the  proportions  are  varied  according  to  the  supply  available.  Except 
cotton-seed  cake  and  linseed  cake,  both  of  which  are  always  fed.  the 
concentrated  part  of  the  ration  varies  with  the  prices  of  feed,  and  is 
composed  of  one  or  more  of  the  following:  Crushed  oats,  ground  bar- 
lev,  corn  meal,  rice  meal,  bean  meal,  and  pea  meal.     In  February, 


CATTLE,  SHEEP,  AND   HOG   FEEDING   IN    EUROPE. 


21 


cattle  on  full  feed  were  receiving  the  following  ration :  Cotton-seed 
cake,  4  pounds;  lins(H>d  cake,  2  poiind.s;  crushed  oats,  4  j)ounds:  mixed 
hay,  8  pounds;  oat  straw,  0  pounds;  and  swedes,  80  pounds. 

Ration  f(/r  steers  fed  in  yorthumberland,  England. 


Feeding  stuff. 

Quan- 
tity. 

Dry 
matter. 

DigeHti- 
ble  pro- 
tein. 

Digeati- 
lilo  «*ar- 
l)ohy- 
drati-H. 

DigeAti- 
ble  fat. 

Nntrt- 
tiv.. 
ratio. 

Mixed  hay 

Pounds. 

8 
6 
80 
4 
2 
4 

Punudg. 
6.968 
5.448 
8.000 
3.672 
1.816 
3.560 

Pounds. 

0.472 

.072 

.8(« 

1.488 

.586 

.368 

Pounih. 
3.272 
2.316 
6.4<J0 
.670 
.654 
1.892 

Pounds. 

0.006 
.048 
.160 
.488 

.no 

.lti8 

< 'at  straw 

Swedes 

Crushed  oats 

29.464 

8.786 

15.210 

1.100 

1:4.67 

Farm  No.  4- — This  farm  is  located  in  Gloucester.  Cattle  on  full 
feed  are  fed  daily  per  head  15  pounds  of  mixed  hay,  3  pounds  of  oat 
chaff,  50  pounds  of  swedes,  3  pounds  of  cotton-seed  cake,  2  pounds  of 
linseed  cake,  4  pounds  of  ground  barley,  and  3  pounds  of  corn  meal. 
The  hay  is  fed  in  three  feeds — morning,  noon,  and  night;  the  grain 
and  cake  are  mixed  with  the  oat  chaff  and  fed  in  two  feeds — morning 
and  evening;  the  swedes  are  fed  about  9  a.  m.  and  4  p.  m. 

Ration  for  steers  fed  in  Gloueester.  Eupland. 


FeediniJ  stuff. 


Quan- 
tity. 


Dry 

matter. 


Poiindx.  j  Pounds. 


Mixe<l  hay 

Oat  chaff .. 

Swedes 

Cottou-seed  cake. 

Linseed  cake 

Ground  barley . . . 
Corn  meal.. 


Pound.1.    I'oiiixis.    Po}i>uls. 


VA.(m 
•2.. 571 
5.000 
2.7.54 
1.816 
3.  ntH 
•2. 073 


0.  KS5 
.(W5 
..5(«l 

1.11(1 
..58() 
.;M8 


6. !:« 

4.0(K) 
..")tl7 

2.  l£.»4 
2.(K)1 


;u.4W 


3.717 


It).  911 


O.l.sO  ' 

.(til  ' 

.100  ' 

.306    

.140    

.<KU  [ 

.129    

l.OKt  ,         1  :.•).].•. 


hATTKNIXG    t'ATTI.K    O.N    (iR.XSS. 


Cattle  are  fattened  on  grass  in  all  parts  of  England,  but  this  is 
not  extensively  done  except  whore  rents  are  low  or  where  land  is  sub- 
ject to  overflow  and  is  kept  in  permanent  pasture. 

Many  fall  and  winter  feeders  feed  cake  on  grass  for  several  months 
until  the  cattle  are  half  fat  before  putting  them  in  the  yards  or 
stables.  The  allowance  at  first  is  very  small — perhaps  1  pound  j^er 
day — -the  amount  being  gradually  increased  until  the  animals  are  eat- 
ing 4  or  5  pounds  per  head  daily  at  the  end  of  the  grass  period. 


22  BUREAU  OF  ANIMAL  INDUSTRY. 

Others  fatten  their  cattle  on  grass  alone  until  a  month  or  six  weeks 
previous  to  marketing  time,  when  some  cake  is  given. 

In  all  parts  of  the  country  there  are  feeders  who  endeavor  to  finisli 
their  cattle  on  the  grass  land  or  have  them  forward  enough  by  the 
1st  of  October  so  that  from  three  to  six  weeks*  yard  feeding  on  hay, 
roots,  and  cake  Avill  make  prime  animals.  Where  this  is  done  unde- 
corticated  cotton  cake,  or  a  mixture  of  this  cake  and  linseed  cake,  is 
fed  throughout  the  entire  summer.  Pearly  in  the  season  from  2  to 
3  pounds  per  head  per  day  are  fed,  but  the  amount  is  gradually 
increased  at  the  rate  of  1  pound  per  month,  so  that  the  cattle  are  very 
often  eating  from  7  to  9  pounds  per  head  daily  at  the  end  of  the 
grass  period. 

FEEDING    IX    SCOTLAND. 

Scotch  farmers  have  given  to  the  world  some  of  its  best  beef  breeds; 
they  have  been  fully  as  successful  in  feeding  animals  for  beef,  and 
from  the  standpoint  of  quality  and  flavor  Scotch-fed  beef  has  held 
for  many  years  the  leading  position  in  the  most  critical  meat  markets 
of  the  world.  This  is  remarkable,  because  Scotch  beef  is  not  produced 
in  any  one  locality,  or  confined  to  any  one  class  of  farmers,  but  is 
produced  on  practically  all  farms,  large  and  small,  within  the  bound- 
aries of  Scotland.  The  number  of  cattle  fed  by  an  individual  is 
not  usually  so  large  as  in  America,  and  depends  upon  the  amount 
of  roughage  and  roots  available. 

In  former  years  many  of  the  north  of  Scotland  cattle  feeders  in 
fattening  three-year-old  and  four-year-old  cattle  fed  nothing  but 
straw  and  swedes.  This  method  of  feeding  does  not  now  prevail  to 
the  same  extent,  as  the  tendency  on  every  hand  is  to  market  animals 
at  an  earlier  age.  and  grain  and  cake  have  been  added  to  the  rations. 
Breeding  animals,  hoAvever.  are  still  fed  large  quantities  of  roots  by 
many  stockmen,  and  in  such  cases  not  much  grain  and  cake  is  given. 

FEEDING    HREEDIXG    CATTLE. 

AVith  the  exception  of  bulls,  breeding  cattle  of  all  ages  are  kept  on 
pasture  when  the  weather  permits.  Calves  run  with  their  dams  on 
grass  as  soon  as  it  comes.  Bull  calves  begin  to  eat  grain  while  still 
on  pasture.     With  the  approach  of  winter  the  feed  is  increased. 

In  northwest  Scotland  Shorthorn  and  Angus  bull  calves  are  fed 
very  lil)erally  until  ready  for  sale,  Avhich  is  when  they  are  between 
1"2  and  IS  months  of  age.  Hay  is  usually  fed  long,  and  roots  are 
sliced  or  pulped.  The  amounts  given  are  from  10  to  15  pounds  of 
iiay,  30  to  GO  pounds  of  roots,  and  (>  to  12  pounds  of  grain.  Some 
grain  rations  are :  Linseed  cake  2  parts,  wheat  bran  1  part,  crushed 
oats  1  part;  crushed  oats,  linseed  cake,  and  ground  barley  or  corn 


CATTLE,  SHEEP,  AND    HOG    FEEDING    IN    EUROPE.  23 

meal,  (H|ual  jjarts;  hiiiii  and  linseed  cake  eijual  parts.  This  is  the 
feediiie;  (hirin<r  the  first  winter. 

Heifer  calves  are  not  usnally  fed  prain  while  swcklin«r.  and  are  not 
mad*'  excessively  fat.  hut  kept  in  jrood  <jrowin^  condition.  Some 
hreeders  feed  no  f;rain  or  cake,  maintainin<j:  them  on  turnips  and  hay 
during  the  winter,  but  the  majority  feed  (-rushed  oats  an<l  linseed 
cake.  'J'he  only  heifers  which  are  forced  at  all  are  those  intended 
for  show,  and  their  rations  contain  lar«r«'  <|uantities  of  roots,  a  con- 
siderable amount  of  hay,  and  a  comparatively  small  amount  of  ^rain 
and  cake.  Scotch  hreeders  Udievo  that  when  fed  in  this  way  heifers 
are  not  seriously  injured  for  breeding.  They  have  the  fresh,  sap|)v 
appearance  of  «>:rass-fed  cattle  in  .June,  and  three-year-old  heifers 
which  had  been  fed  in  this  way  did  not  seem  to  have  suffered  by  it. 

In  no  other  line  of  cattle  feedinjif  in  Scotland  d<K's  such  uniformity 
of  method  exist  as  in  the  feeding  of  breetling  cows.  After  the 
calves  are  weaned  the  cows  are  allowed  the  run  of  a  <rrass  lot  until 
severe  weather  renders  it  necessary  to  furnish  shelter  and  winter 
rations.  At  this  time  some  breeders  tie  their  cows  in  stalls,  but  the 
more  <;eni'ral  custom  is  to  furnish  loose  stalls  for  individual  cows  or 
lar«;e  covered  courts  where  a  numl)er  may  run  t()<;ether.  From  the 
time  they  are  housed  until  within  three  or  four  weeks  of  calvin*; 
they  are  maintained  solely  on  turnips  and  r()Uirha<re.  The  amount 
of  turnips  fed  varies  from  (10  to  l.")0  [munds  per  cow  per  day.  The 
racks  are  usually  kept  well  filled  with  straw  at  all  times  and  the 
turnips  are  fed  in  two  or  three  feeds,  more  <j:enerally  two  feeds,  one 
in  the  bite  morning  and  the  other  about  -'j  or  4  |).  m.  The  roots  are 
nearly  always  fed  whole  to  mature  cows,  but  they  are  very  often 
sliced  or  pulped  for  young  cows  or  heifers  which  are  >hedding  their 
teeth. 

As  calving  time  approaches,  the  cows  are  generally  placed  in  box 
stalls  or  tied  in  ()i)en  stalls  and  fed  more  lil)erally.  a  grain  ration 
being  added.  At  calving  time  and  for  a  week  or  t<'n  days  after, 
many  breeders  give  warm  bran  mashes  and  in  some  instances  all  the 
drinking  water  is  Avarmed.  After  this  the  feeding  is  lib(>ral  until 
grass  arrives.  Some  of  the  grain  rations  fed  cows  with  calves  are: 
(iroimd  barley,  bran,  and  linseed  i-ake.  e(iual  parts:  drii'd  brewer> 
grains,  ground  barley,  and  linseed  cake.  e(iual  parts:  cotton  cake 
sometimes  takes  the  place  of  part  of  the  linseed  cake.  AN'hen  grass 
becomes  plentiful,  achlitional  feed  is  not  usually  sui)plied. 

Breeding  bulls  are  fed  liberally  until  they  have  proved  themselves 
to  be  superior  stock  getters,  buyers  always  judging  a  young  bull's 
ability  to  sire  good  Ix^ef  cattle  by  his  own  condition.  Some  of  the 
winter  grain  rations  fed  yearling  and  two-year-old  bulls  are:  Crushed 
oats,  2  parts;  wheat  bran,  1  part:  ground  or  cooked  barley.  1  part; 


ii4  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL   INDUSTRY. 

linseed  cake,  2  parts;  crushed  oats,  Avheat  bran,  linseed  cake,  equal 
parts;  crushed  oats  and  linseed  cake,  equal  parts.  The  grain  ration 
is  fed  in  two  feeds,  morning  and  evening;  some  breeders  mix  it  with 
oat  chaif  or  cut  hay  l>efore  feeding.  The  rations  in  the  summer  are 
very  much  the  same,  green  forage  taking  the  place  of  the  roots. 

Some  breeders  do  not  feed  grain  and  cake  to  mature  bulls  and.  at 
any  rate,  less  cake  and  barley  and  more  oats  and  bran  are  used  than 
for  younger  bulls.  The  allowances  of  roughage  and  succulent  feed 
are  proportionately  larger  in  all  cases  and  that  of  concentrates  less. 
Some  of  the  grain  rations  for  these  animals  are  as  follows:  Crushed 
oats  and  wheat  bran,  equal  parts;  crushed  oats,  2  parts,  wheat  bran, 
2  parts,  linseed  cake,  1  part ;  crushed  oats,  3  parts,  wheat  bran.  2 
parts,  ground  barley,  1  part,  and  linseed  cake,  1  part;  crushed  oats, 
wheat  bran,  and  linseed  cake,  equal  parts. 

THE    PRODUCTION    OF    BEEF. 

The  growing  and  fattening  of  cattle  for  beef  engages  the  attention 
of  the  farmers  to  a  certain  extent  in  all  sections  of  Scotland. 
Throughout  the  Highlands  the  breeders  of  Highland  cattle  grow 
store,  or  feeding,  animals,  and  in  the  arable  districts  it  is  the  excep- 
tion to  find  a  farmer  who  is  not  in  some  way  connected  with  the  l>eef 
industry. 

If  two-year-olds  and  three-year-olds  are  fed,  a  great  deal  of  rough- 
age is  used.  The  amount  fed  young  animals  is  not  so  great  and  the 
quality  is  better.  Oat.  barley,  and  wheat  straw  and  the  various 
kinds  of  hay  are  used.  The  amount  of  oat  straw  used  is  astonishing, 
especially  in  feeding  more  mature  animals. 

Sourees  of  feeding  cattle. — Feeders  get  their  stores  from  Ireland, 
from  southwest  Scotland,  from  the  Highlands,  or  in  their  own  neigh- 
l)orhood  from  small  farmers. 

The  age  of  the  Irish  cattle  when  purchased  varies  from  12  to  30 
months,  but  the  most  of  them  are  about  18  months  old:  the  Galloways 
from  the  southwest  are  from  12  to  20  months  old,  the  Highlands 
from  3  to  4  years,  and  the  local  stock  from  1  to  2  years. 

Beef  prochietion  on  Jiic/h- priced  land. — In  addition  to  the  stockmen 
who  purchase  their  feeders  there  is  a  considerable  niunber  who  grow 
all  the  animals  they  feed,  and  this  Avork  is  successfully  done  in  some 
instances  where  land  rents  for  $12.50  per  acre.  Souie  of  these 
farmers  purchase  calves  when  a  few  days  old  and  raise  them  on 
nurse  cows,  and  this  is  successful  if  good  calves  are  secured.  In 
some  instances  feeders  furnish  high-class  beef  sires  to  the  owners  of 
cows,  so  that  the  calves  will  be  of  the  desired  feeding  type.  These 
men  aim  to  have  their  cattle  ready  for  market  before  they  are  2 
vears  old.     The  calves  are  tauirht  to  eat  at  an  earlv  age  and  are  very 


CATTLE,  SHEEP,  AND    HOG    FEEDING    IN    EUROPE.  25 

]il)erally  fed  until  ready  for  the  market.  Another  successful  method 
is  when  open  heifers  about  20  months  old  are  j)ur(ha.sed  in  the 
fall  in  the  (Jalloway  district  or  in  Ireland  and  maintained  as  eco- 
nomically as  possible  until  March,  when  they  are  l)red  to  a  hi^h- 
class  beef  sire.  Black  bulls  are  <;^enerally  used  on  heifers  of  mixed 
color,  and  Shorthorn  bulls  on  black  heifers,  so  that  the  (;alves  will 
be  uniform  in  appearance.  The  heifers  are  g:razed  during  the  sunnner 
and  do  not  receive  any  sjx'cial  care  or  additional  feed  until  the  latter 
part  of  October  or  the  first  of  November.  Frojii  this  time  on  they 
are  fed  on  hay,  roots,  and  very  often  a  small  allowance  of  grain 
and  cake,  so  as  to  be  in  good  condition  at  calving  time.  After  calv- 
ing they  are  liberally  fed.  When  the  grass  S{>ason  opens  they  are  put 
on  pasture  and  fed  from  5  to  10  pounds  of  grain  and  cake  per  day 
in  addition.  The  calves  are  weaned  about  the  1st  of  September  and 
three  months'  additional  feeding  makes  the  dams  ready  for  the 
butcher. 

The  advantages  claimed  for  this  method  are  that  the  heifers  are 
growing  all  the  time  and  increasing  in  value,  that  they  will  rear 
good  calves  and  still  sell  in  the  open  market  not  as  cows  but  as  fat 
heifers.  As  a  rule  they  are  purchased  for  about  $40  each  and  sell 
for  $80  or  $90.  On  some  farms  the  heifers  raise  a  second  calf  before 
being  sold.  AMiere  this  method  prevails  one-half  of  them  are  sold 
as  milch  cows  after  dropping  the  second  calf,  and  the  others  are 
made  to  suckle  two  calves  each,  are  bred  a  third  time,  and  sold  as 
milch  cows  after  dropping  their  third  calf,  or  are  fed  heavily  during 
the  second  lactation  period  and  finished  for  beef. 

The  calves  are  taught  to  eat  at  an  early  age  and  are  heavily  fed : 
they  run  with  the  mothers  on  grass  and  receive  all  the  grain  and  cake 
they  will  eat  up  clean,  the  feeding  being  increased  as  they  will  take 
it,  at  the  rate  of  half  a  pound  or  a  pound  a  month.  They  are  weaned 
early  in  September  and  from  that  time  on  are  housed  and  well  fed 
until  ready  for  market  the  following  Ajjril  or  May.  During  this 
time  tiiey  are  fed  10  to  15  2X)unds  of  mixed  or  clover  hay.  20  to  50 
pounds  of  turnips  or  swedes,  and  a  grain  mixture  composed  of  lin- 
seed cake,  cotton  cake,  dried  l)rewers'  grains,  and  corn  or  l)arlev  meal, 
equal  parts:  linseed  cake,  cruslied  oats,  j^ea  meal,  and  ground  barley, 
equal  parts;  linseed  cake,  cotton  cake,  crushed  oats,  and  corn  meal, 
equal  parts.  The  amount  of  grain  fed  vari(>s  from  10  to  14  pounds 
per  animal  i)er  day.  according  to  age  and  size.  The  best  feeders  use 
more  linseed  cake  and  less  cotton  cake  when  swedes  are  fed  than 
Avhen  yellow  turnips  are  fed. 

Fatteiihuj  caffle.—ThQ  age  and  condition  of  cattle  at  the  time  of 
purchase  influence  the  methods  of  feeding.  A  great  many  feeder- 
])urchase  young  animals  in  thin  flesh  in  the  fall  and  carry  them 
through  the  winter  on  light  rations.  <rraduallv  increasiuir  the  amount 


26 


BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 


of  cake  fed,  so  that  by  May.  when  the  grass  season  opens,  they  will 
l)e  eating  about  4  i)()iinds  per  da}'.  They  are  then  put  on  grass  and 
the  cake  is  increased  at  the  rate  of  1  pound  per  month,  so  that  they 
will  be  eating  8  or  9  pounds  per  day  by  the  middle  of  September  or 
the  first  of  October,  when  they  are  put  in  yards  to  be  finished  in  six 
to  ten  weeks  on  hay.  roots,  grain,  and  cake. 

In  fall  and  winter  feeding  cattle  are  fed  in  closed  courts  or  tied  in 
stalls,  and  the  length  of  the  feeding  period  varies  from  six  weeks  to 
seven  or  eight  months.  Cattle  which  have  been  carried  through  the 
previous  winter  on  light  rations  and  fed  cake  with  grass  during  the 
summer  months  require  but  a  short  period  of  feeding  to  ])ut  them  in 
good  condition.  On  the  other  hand,  thin  animals  with  large,  coarse 
frames  require  several  months  to  round  them  out  in  marketable 
condition. 

The  following  rations  are  fairly  representative  of  })revailing  meth- 
ods of  feeding.  In  each  instance  the  ration  is  that  used  when  the 
animals  are  on  full  feed. 

Far/n  Xo.  J. — This  farm  is  located  in  the  extreme  south  of  Scot- 
land, in  the  midst  of  the  Galloway  breeding  district.  The  cattle  on 
feed  would  weigh  in  the  neighborhood  of  1.200  pounds  and  had  been 
fed  cake  on  grass  all  summer:  they  were  almost  finished  at  the  time 
of  the  writer's  visit  early  in  November.  The  following  ration  Avas 
fed :  90  pounds  swedes.  7  pounds  oat  straw.  (*>  ])ounds  mixed  hay, 
3  pounds  crushed  oats.  4  pounds  bean  meal,  and  -4  pounds  of  linseed 
cake.  The  swedes  were  fed  in  three  feeds — morning,  noon,  and  even- 
ing: the  grain  and  cake  in  two  feeds — morning  and  night;  the  hay  in 
the  morning,  and  the  straw  at  night. 


Ratiftit  for  ><tcrrs  fed  in  soiitlicni  scothind. 


Feeding  stuff. 


Quan- 
tity. 


nitrp^ti  i  Digesti- 

^'•^        Kro  We.^-a'--    Dige,^ti- 

matter.       VtS,  ^^^-      ^>^<^  fat. 

'■^"^-  drater*. 


Swedes 

Oat  sti-aw 

Mixed  liay. . . 
Cru.sbed  oat.s 
Bean  meal. .. 
Linseed  cake 


Nutri- 
tive 
i"ati<). 


Pounds. 
90 

6 
3 
4 
4 

Pounds. 
9. 900 
0. :»! 
.5. 22t; 
2.670 
3.428 
3.632 

P( 

luuds. 

0.900 

.084 

.a^>4 

.276 

.896 

1.172 

Pound.f. 
7.290 
2. 702 
2.4.>1 
1.419 
1.972 
1.308 

Pounds. 
0.180 

.056    ..._ 
072 

.12()    .... 

.04S 

.28(1 

31.212 

3.682 

17. 14.^ 

.  7t)2         1 

:  .5. 12 

Farm  y o.  2. — This  farm  is  located  in  Perthshire  and  is  the  seat  of 
extensive  cattle-feeding  operations.  The  cattle  are  fattened  at  an 
early  age  and  are  marketed  at  al)out  1.200  pounds  live  weight.  The 
ration  fed  during  Fel)ruarv  to  cattle  which  had  been  on  feed  since 
the  middle  of  October  and  were  to  be  marketed  earh'  in  April  was 


CATTLE,  SHEEP,  AND    HOG    FEEDING    IN    EUROPE.  27 

composed  of  ir»  pounds  oat  straw.  .■)  pounds  oat  chaft".  70  j)ounds 
swedes.  10  j)Ounds  potatoes.  4  pounds  linseed  cake,  and  4  pounds  of 
cotton-seed  cake.  Th«'  straw  was  put  in  the  racks  in  the  morning, 
the  cake  was  mixed  with  the  oat  chart'  and  fvd  in  two  f»'eds — morn- 
ing and  night:  and  the  swedes  were  fed  in  two  feeds — at  8  a.  m.  and 
4  |).  m.     The  cattle  were  in  a  large  covereil  court. 

Ration  for  steers  fed  in   I'erHisliirt .  Scot  hi  ml. 


Fo<"<linK  stuff. 


Qnan-  Dry        [^fc^*"     M.f't.V:    r>i^..sti-      ^'"♦fj 

tity.        iimtt.-r.    '''.'.JT^-      W.hv-      l.l- fat.       J'.? 


Out  straw 

Oat  fhaff 

Swedes 

Potatoes 

Cotton-seod  <"ake. 
Linseod  cake 


Pounds. 
15 

r 

'oiindii. 
13.f,2t( 
4.»C) 

7.;ix) 
:.Mi() 

p. 

ittndM. 

0.1X0 

.(»T5 

.7(10 

.()!«• 

1.4HM 

1.172 

I'„„.„Ih.    i 

r).7«» 

l.tkVI 
5. (i7() 
l.tK*) 
.«7(i 
l.ais 

().12<»    

.!«-)     .... 

70 

.140    .... 

10 

.01(1 

4 
4 

.ixs     .... 
.2>«l    .   .. 

:«.oi9 

3. 7(6 

1«. 724 

1.07:i       1 

:  .->.  17 

F<(nii  Xo.  ■). — This  farm  is  located  in  the  Midlothian  district,  near 
Edinburgh.  The  tenant  pays  an  annual  rent  of  $1:2. ."iO  i)er  acre  for 
the  land.  He  does  not  buy  feeders,  but  purchases  heifers,  raising 
only  one  calf  from  them  and  then  fattening  them  foi*  market.  He 
therefore  breeds  his  own  feeders.  They  are  finislu'd  for  market  at 
from  17  to  18  months  of  age.  The  following  ration  was  fed  in  Feb- 
ruary, when  the  animals  were  about  1.")  months  old  and  weighing  on 
an  average  alH)ut  1,000  pounds:  Pi  pounds  mixed  hay.  <>0  pounds 
swedes.  'A  j)oiinds  linseed  cake.  8  j)ounds  cotton-seed  cake.  :>  j)ounds 
ground  barley,  and  '2  pounds  corn  meal.  The  hay  wa>  fed  in  two 
feeds— morning  and  evening:  the  grain  and  cake  also  in  two  feeds — 
morning  and  evening:  and  the  swedes  in  three  feeds — morning,  noon. 

and  night. 

lintion  for  steers  fed  near  Kdinhunjh.  Seothnid. 

F      r         t    ff  I    Q»a»-         Drv        Difesti-    ^1^';.';^;.:    p;       jj.      Xutri- 

Feedu.^  stuff.  |    ^^^^^,         matter.     ^^'JT"       Ix'liv-       M,- fat.        ,V,V 

I  ,     '■^"^-        drates.  iau<. 


ri>H)ids.  Pininds.     Pounds.     I'oiniil.i.     Pimmls. 

Mixedhay 12  10.4.-)2  (i.7o.x  4.!tos  ii.Ui 

Swedes tiO  ti.tioo  .('**)  4.stii)  .  12>i 

Linseed  c-akes IS  2.724  .  S7!t  .'.tsl  .21i' 

Cotton-seedcake -i  2. 7.'>4  l.llil  .:<»<:  .'.W, 

Ground  l)arley -i  2.i)7:<  .2til  \.'Ml<  .ii4> 

Corn  meal 2  1.7S2  .  15,><  l.:CM  .<'X'. 


2tl.SK->  S.722         14.").> 


Farm  Xo.  4- — This  farm  is  located  in  Aberdeen,  in  the  very  center 
of  the  greatest  cattle-feedinir  district  in  Scotland.     At  the  time  of  the 


28 


BUREAU  OF  ANIMAL  INDUSTRY. 


writer's  visit  the  tenant  was  feeding  about  fifty  head  of  high-grade 
and  purebred  Shorthorn  cattle,  which  would  average  about  two  and 
a  half  years  and  weigh  about  1,400  pounds  each.  The  ration  fed  was 
a  very  simple  one,  composed  of  15  pounds  oat  straw,  5  pounds  oat 
chaff,  180  pounds  swedes,  4  pounds  linseed  cake,  and  4  pounds  cooked 
barley.  The  straw  was  put  in  the  feed  racks  every  morning,  the 
cooked  barley  and  linseed  cake  were  mixed  with  the  oat  chaff  and  fed 
ill  the  evening,  and  the  swedes  were  fed  in  three  feeds — morning, 
noon,  and  early  evening. 

Ration  for  steers  fed  in  Aberdeen.  Scotland. 


Feeding  stuff. 

Quan- 
tity. 

Dry 

matter. 

Digesti-  i  Di^esti- 
^®^°-     1   drates. 

Digesti-     Nutri- 

Oat  straw                                              

Pounds. 

15 

5 

130 

4 

4 

Pounds. 
13.620 
4.285 

i4.:«o 

3.632 
3.564 

Pounds,  t  Pounds. 

0. 180  1        5. 790 
.075  :        1.6.50 

1.300      mmi 
1.172       i.sas 

.34«  ;         2.624 

Pounds. 
0.120 

Oat  chaff ._ 

Swedes 

.0:^5 
.260 
.280 

Cooked  barley _ 

.064 

,::,« 

39.401  1        3.075  1      21.902 

.759 

Farin  No.  5. — This  farm  is  located  in  Forfarshire,  which  is  also  a 
noted  cattle-feeding  district.  In  this  district  the  feeders  use  more 
barley  straw  and  hay  than  the  feeders  in  the  extreme  northern  coun- 
ties. Rice  meal  is  also  fed  on  many  farms.  On  the  farm  in  question 
the  manager  was  feeding  a  large  number  of  high-gi-ade  Angus  heifers 
which  had  been  on  feed  over  four  months.  They  were  about  two  and 
a  half  years  old  and  would  average  about  1,100  pounds  live  weight. 
The  ration  in  use  consisted  of  10  pounds  barley  straw,  5  pounds  mixed 
hay,  00  pounds  swedes,  5  pounds  rice  meal,  3  pounds  cotton-seed 
cake,  and  2  pounds  linseed  cake.  The  straw  was  put  in  the  feed 
racks  in  the  morning,  the  hay  was  cut  and  mixed  Avith  the  rice  meal 
and  cake  and  fed  in  two  feeds,  morning  and  evening.  The  swedes 
A\ere  sliced  and  fed  in  three  feeds — morning,  noon,  and  early  evening. 

Ration  for  steers  fed  in  Forfarshire.  Scotland. 


Feeding  stuff. 

Quan- 
tity. 

Dry 

matter. 

Digesti- 
ble pro- 
tein. 

Digesti- 
ble car- 
bohy- 
drates. 

Digesti- 
ble fat. 

Nutri- 
tive 
ratio. 

Pounds. 
10 
5 

"oo 

5 

3 

Pounds. 

8.580 

4.  :m 

9.  iKlO 
4..5(X) 
2. 7.54 
1. 810 

Pounds. 

0.070 

.2515 

.!HK) 

.  4.50 

1.116 

Pounds. 
4.120 
2.045 
7. 290 
1.7.50 
.507 
.654 

Pounds. 
0.060 
.060 
.180 
.500 
.366 
.140 

1.306 

Mixed  hav               .                

Swedes 

Rice  TTie.ti.l 

♦. . 

Cotton-seed  cake 

Linseed  cake 

31.905 

3.417 

16.366 

1:5.68 

CATTLE,  SHEEP,  AND    HOG    FEEDING    IN    EUROPE.  29 

Practically  every  feeder  feeds  from  00  to  120  or  V^O  pounds  of 
swedes  per  animal  per  day,  and  the  rest  of  the  ration  is  usually  com 
posed  of  such  rou^ha^e  as  is  available  and  concentrates.  At  least 
one-half  of  the  latter  would  be  cake,  and  the  remainder  is  made  up 
of  home-^rown  grains  which  have  been  danui^ed  from  a  market 
standpoint  or  other  cheap  and  easily  obtained  fcetls.  Yellow  turnips 
are  sometimes  fed  in  the  fjill  instead  of  the  swedes,  but  the  latter  are 
much  more  popular  for  fattening  and  are  nearly  always  used. 

IRISH    METHODS    Oy    FEEDING. 
BREEDI.NO    CATTLE. 

Few  countries  are  better  adapted  to  the  production  of  vigorous 
breeding  stock  than  is  Ireland,  and  this  industry  promises  to  make 
very  rapid  develoi)ment  in  the  near  future.  With  more  rigid  de- 
mands from  Great  Britain  for  quality  in  feeders,  a  strong  demand 
has  developed  for  purebred  beef  sires,  and  many  of  the  more  pro- 
gressive Irish  farmers  have  established  herds  to  supply  it. 

Methods  of  feeding  show  considerable  uniformity,  and  the  most 
jH'evalent  custom  is  to  allow  the  cows  to  nurse  their  calves  until  7  or 
S  months  old.  Some  good  breeders  milk  their  cows  and  feed  the 
calves  on  whole  milk.  The  feeding  of  the  cows  is  much  the  same, 
regardless  of  how  the  calves  are  reared.  During  the  late  sj)i-iiig. 
summer,  and  early  fall  they  are  pastured  and  no  additional  fe<>(l  is 
given,  unless  the  pastures  are  short,  whicli  does  not  often  hapix'n. 

The  winter  methods  of  feeding  vary  according  to  climatic  condi- 
tions. In  the  south  and  central  portions  of  tiie  country  the  cows  are 
allowed  to  spend  several  hours  each  day  in  the  i)asture.  and  it  is  said 
that  herds  managed  in  this  manner  seldom,  if  ever,  contain  tul)er- 
culous  animals.  During  the  early  part  of  the  winter,  while  the  cows 
are  dry,  the  stable  ration  consists  of  one  feed  of  oat  straw,  one  feed  of 
mixed  hay,  and  from  50  to  80  pounds  of  turnips  per  cow  })er  day. 
Xo  grain  of  any  kind  is  given,  and  the  cows  not  only  maintain  their 
condition,  but  rapidly  increase  in  flesh.  The  calves  are  generally 
dropped  between  the  first  of  January  and  the  latter  part  of  April. 
About  three  weeks  previous  to  calving  each  cow  is  fed  from  :i  to  S 
pounds  per  day  of  a  mixture  of  ecpial  parts  by  weight  of  crushed  oats 
and  bran.  This  grain  mixture  is  usually  given  dry  until  calving 
time,  but  thereafter  it  is  made  into  a  thick  mash  with  boiling  water. 
The  ration  otherwise  remains  the  same:  the  cow  is  usually  confined  to 
the  stable  for  a  week  or  ten  days,  after  which  she  is  allowed  access 
to  the  grass  lot  for  several  hours  each  day  during  favoj-able  weather. 

In  the  northern  part  of  Ireland  the  cows  are  confined  to  the  stable 
during  the  greater  i)art  of  the  winter.  During  the  early  winter  they 
are  fed  on  oat  straw  and  turnips,  and  may  receive  some  mixed  hay 


30  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL   INDUSTRY. 

as  well.  They  are  fed  from  GO  to  100  pounds  of  turnips  per  head 
daily,  and  on  some  farms  even  lar<rer  (juantities  are  jriven.  The 
amount  of  straw  fed  is  governed  only  by  the  appetite  of  the  cow,  as 
she  is  given  all  she  will  eat.  More  care  is  observed  in  feedin'r  hay, 
the  amount  seldom  exceeding  15  pounds  per  cow  per  day.  It  is 
claimed  that  dry  cows  will  nearly  always  increase  in  flesh  on  these 
rations.  From  two  to  four  weeks  previous  to  calving  time  a  small 
allowance  of  grain  is  given.  A  mixture  of  crushed  oats  and  bran,  or 
ground  barley  and  bran,  is  generally  fed  at  this  time.  After  calving 
the  grain  mixture  is  usually  made  into  a  thick  mash  with  boiling 
water.  The  amount  of  turnips  is  increased  about  iJ5  per  cent  and  is 
fed  in  three  feeds  instead  of  two  feeds  per  day. 

Breeding  bulls  are  rather  closely  confined  both  summer  and  winter. 
A  small,  open  paddock  is  usually  provided  for  exercise;  on  some 
farms  they  have  a  grass  lot  instead.  The  rations  fed  during  the 
winter  are  usually  composed  of  hay  and  turnips,  with  a  small  allow- 
ance of  concentrated  feed.  Sixty  to  80  pounds  of  roots  daily  is  the 
usual  amount,  and  from  5  to  1:2  pounds  of  grain,  according  to  the 
bull's  condition  and  the  amount  of  service  required.  In  summer 
green  forage  replaces  the  roots. 

No  attempt  is  made  to  pamper  young  stock,  but  great  care  is  taken 
to  retain  the  milk  flesh.  Young  bulls  are  fed  more  liberally  than 
heifers. 

THE  PRODUCTION  OF  STORE  CATTLE. 

Generally  speaking.  Irishmen  use  no  method  in  producing  store,  or 
feeding,  cattle.  They  are  usually  bred  regardless  of  type  or  color. 
In  only  a  few  cases  are  purebred  sires  used  or  is  the  feeding  liberal. 
I'he  large  proportion  of  them  are  produced  by  small  tenant  farmers, 
and  the  animals  have  to  shift  for  themselves  most  of  the  time. 

On  the  larger  farms  the  calves  are.  in  addition  to  the  run  of  a  grass 
lot.  usually  fed  skim  milk  and  very  often  a  small  allowance  of  grain 
or  cod-liver  oil  to  replace  the  butter  fat  taken  out  of  the  milk. 
Recent  experiments  conducted  by  the  department  of  agriculture  of 
Ireland  have  demonstrated  that  cod-liver  oil  is  an  excellent  feed 
with  skim  milk  for  calves.  Calves  fed  on  a  ration  of  skim  ijiilk  and 
cod-liver  oil  made  practically  as  large  gains  as  those  fed  on  whole 
milk,  and  much  greater  than  those  fed  on  corn  and  milk.  Flaxseed 
is  also  used.  Calves  reared  in  this  manner  during  the  summer  and 
liberally  fed  and  comfortably  housed  during  the  first  winter  do 
exceptionally  well  the  following  sununer  and  sell  well  in  Great 
Britain. 

FATTENING  C  ATT  I.E. 

The  fattening  of  cattle  is  gradually  increasing  in  importance. 
Stall  feeding  is  largelv  confined  to  the  central  part  of  the  country, 


CATTLE,  SHEEP,  AND    HOG    FEEDING    IN    EUROPE.  31 

and  to  Ulstt'i-  in  the  north:  hut  snninuT  feeding  is  |)ractice<l  in  all 
parts  of  the  coinitry.  When  fed  on  ^rass.  cake  and  «rrain  arc  seldom 
^iv<Mi.  Many  fanners,  osjM'cially  in  central  and  sontlu'rn  Ireland, 
feed  two  lots  of  cattle  j)er  year  on  their  j)asture.  the  first  heinj; 
marketed  in  May  and  the  s<'cond  in  November. 

Cattle  fatt<'ned  durin*;  the  winter  in  stalls  are  fed  from  three  to 
fonr  months  if  in  fairly  ^ood  flesh  at  the  start.  I)nt  the  averajje 
re(inirc  fi-om  five  to  seven  months'  feedin«r  to  finish  them.  In  the 
north  of  Ireland  a  frreat  deal  of  attention  is  "riven  to  the  steamin«i  of 
concentrated  feed  and  the  cuttinjjf  and  slicing  of  roots.  Fre(pient 
feedin*": — from  three  to  six  times  j)er  day — is  the  |)i"evailiii^  cnstom. 
On  some  of  the  best  farms  stall-fed  animals  are  irroomed  once  or 
twice  per  week,  and  the  practice  is  considered  very  beneficial.  The 
ag:e  of  the  cattle  varies  from  \'2  months  to  H  years  or  over.  Yonnjr 
cattle  are  fed  more  cake  and  less  rouf^hage  than  8-year-olds. 

The  following  are  representative  rations: 

Fitnn  Xo.  1. — This  is  a  medium-sized  farm  near  Dublin,  where  the 
owner  feeds  about  50  head  of  young  steers  each  winter,  ranging  in  age 
from  15  to  IS  months.  They  are  fed  in  a  covered  court.  When  on  full 
feed  the  ration  consists  of  mixetl  hay,  15  pounds;  turnips,  40  pounds; 
crushed  oats,  4  pounds:  corn  meal,  8  pounds,  and  linseed  cake,  8 
pounds.  The  hay  is  given  in  two  feeds,  the  turni|)s  in  two  feeds,  and 
the  grain  ration  in  two  e(pial  feeds — morning  and  evening.  The 
cattle  make  very  satisfactory  gains  on  this  ration. 

lidtion  for  steers  fed  near  DiibUii,  Ireiaml. 


^^  drates. 


ratio. 


Pounds.  Pounds.  Pounds.    Pounds.  Pfiunds. 

Mixedhay -.-              15  KJ.OHT)  0.8,><;->          ti. !:«  0. 1«() 

Turnips -- 4(i  :!.(««)  .4(10         2.HS0  .(M) 

Cnisbodoats 4  :\.m)  .a^S  |        l.«)2  .168 

Corn  meal 3  2.ti7:i  .2J7j        2.()01  .129 

Linseedcake 8  2.724  .879            .iWl  .210 


2r,.«22  2.7B9         W.889  .767  i         1:5.  M 


Farm  Xo.  2. — This  farm  is  located  in  County  Down,  in  the  north 
of  Ireland,  in  the  midst  of  one  of  the  greatest  cattle-feeding  districts 
in  the  country.  The  owner  feeds  al)Out  iJOO  head  of  cattle  each  year, 
varying  in  age  from  -1  to  8  years.  In  this  .section  more  dependence 
is  placed  on  straw  and  turnips  than  in  the  central  districts.  Oats 
are  generally  used  with  cake,  but  both  barley  and  corn  are  used  in 
considerable  quantities.  Both  linseed  cake  and  cotton  cake  are  fe(l. 
and  prepared  cakes  are  used  to  some  extent.  On  the  farm  in  (jues- 
tion  the  following  ration  is  fed:  Oat  straw.  \'l  pounds;  mixed  hay,  8 
5154 — Xo.  77 — 05  M :} 


32 


BUREAU    OF    ANTMAL    INDUSTRY. 


pounds;  turnips,  80  pounds;  crushed  oats,  3  pounds;  ground  barley, 
3  pounds;  linseed  cake,  2  pounds,  and  cotton-seed  cake,  2  pounds. 
Hay  is  given  in  the  morning,  straw  at  night,  and  the  grain  and  roots 
in  two  equal  feeds — morning  and  evening.     The  roots  are  sliced. 

Ration  for  Htccrs  fed  in  County  Doivn,  Ireland. 


Feeding  stuff. 


( )at  straw 

Mixed  hay... i... 

Turnips 

Crushed  oats 

Ground  barley  _ . 

Linseed  cake 

Cotton-seed  cake 


Quan-    '      Dry     I  K^i'i  blf  cal>ig^^^^^ 
tity.       matter..  ^\X°     ^rtL   T' ''"'■  \    ^^^'^- 


Pounds.    Pounds. 
12  i      10.896 


7.600 
2.670 
2.673 
1.816 
1.836 


34.459 


Pounds. 

0.144 

.472 

.800 

.277 
.261 


Pounds. 
4.632 
3.272 
5. 760 
1.419 
1.968 
.654 
.338 


Pounds. 
0.096 
.072 
.W) 
.126 
.048 
.140 
.244 


3.283 


18. 04;^ 


1:6.1 


In  some  instances  more  hay  is  fed  than  in  this  ration ;  in  others 
nothing  but  oat  straAV  is  given  for  roughage.  The  amount  of  turnips 
varies  from  GO  to  100  pounds.  The  grain  ration  in  some  instances  is 
composed  of  barley  and  cake  or  corn  and  cake,  but  on  the  majority  of 
farms  some  oats  are  fed.  In  some  instances  the  roots  are  fed  whole. 
To  one  accustomed  to  the  use  of  heavy  grain  rations  it  is  remarkable 
to  note  the  extent  to  which  the  grain  ration  can  be  rej^laced  by  turnips 
and  roughage.  The  increase  in  weight  obtained  by  the  use  of  these 
rations  ranges  from  2  to  3^  pounds  per  steer  per  day. 

FEEI)IX(;  IX    FRANCE. 


liKEEDIXG   CATTLE. 

Calves  are  taught  to  eat  at  an  early  age,  and  young  stock  are  de- 
veloped in  a  simple  manner.  Great  dependence  is  placed  on  green 
forage  and  silage,  and  some  farmers  feed  beets  and  carrots.  The 
amount  of  grain  fed  is  small.  Bulls  intended  for  l)reeding  are  some- 
what better  fed  than  heifers. 

Breeding  bulls  are  maintained  in  fair  flesh.  During  the  summer 
green  feed  is  supplied.  The  winter  ration  consists  of  clover  or  alfalfa 
hay  and  straw,  with  roots  when  available,  (irain  is  not  fed  to  mature 
bulls,  except  when  they  are  used  heavily  or  are  in  poor  condition. 
On  many  farms  the  bulls  are  given  regular  work.  They  may  be 
used  either  singly,  in  pairs,  or  with  an  ox.  Regular  work  insures 
regular  exercise  and  a  good  disposition.  Tt  is  also  said  that  bulls 
managed  in  this  way  get  a  much  larger  percentage  of  calves  than 
when  conhned  in  a  stable  or  paddock. 


CATTLK,  SIlKKl',  AND    H(Xi    FEEDING    IN    EUROPE.  83 


WOKK    CATTI.K. 


TIm'  American  docs  not  usually  associat*'  the  use  of  (txcii  foi"  lalM)r 
with  i)ro<>:ivssiv('  fanning.  Imt  in  France  tlicy  arc  to  In-  found  side 
l>y  side  with  (he  hitest  and  most  lii^hly  imj)roved  hdior-savin^ 
machinery.  \\'hen  asked  why  he  retains  oxen  for  farm  lahor.  tlie 
French  farmer  invarial)ly  rej)lies  that  they  are  more  economical  than 
horses.  On  an  estate  where  very  accnrati'  accounts  are  kept  of  every 
detail  the  mana«fer  claims  that  four  o.xen  do  the  same  amount  of  work 
as  three  horses,  and  that  the  cost  of  a  day's  work  of  a  4-ox  team  is 
$'J. .■)().  while  that  of  a  8-horse  team  is  $:}..")4.  It  is  also  said  to  cost 
much  less  to  jjrow  an  ox  to  working  a<;e  than  it  d(H's  a  horse,  and  he 
can  he  sold  as  heef  at  any  time.  As  little  ^rain  as  j)ossil)le  is  fed, 
and  the  rations  are  composed  of  the  cheapest  feeds  oi)tainahle. 


KATTKMNO    CATTI.K. 


The  French  far»ners  |)roduce  lar^e  quantities  of  heef  and  all  sorts 
of  animals  are  used,  from  the  2-year-old  steer  to  the  worn-out 
dairy  cow  or  work  ox.  15y  far  the  larjxest  numhei's  ai"e  finished  dur- 
ing the  sunnner,  especially  where  <irazin^  is  possible,  and  some 
prominent  farmers  claim  that  were  it  not  for  the  fact  that  i)eef  is  in 
demand  at  all  seasons  of  the  year.  wint<'r  feedin<r  would  he  aban- 
doned in  France. 

To  meet  the  re<rular  demand  more  or  less  stall  feedinjr  is  done,  and 
on  some  farms  it  is  conducted  on  a  very  extensive  scale,  but  where 
^ra/in<jf  is  j)racticed  the  <reneral  custom  is  to  finish  the  animals  on 
^rass  alone.  When  the  pastures  are  short,  xmw  additional  fee<l  may 
be  needed,  when  a  ration  of  about  :>  j^ounds  per  animal  pvi  day  of 
cotton  cake  is  <>:euerally  used.  Linseed  cake  is  used  to  some  extent, 
but  is  preferird  for  wintei'  feedin<r.  :ind  coi-n  or  a  mixtiir«>  <»f  corn  and 
cotton  cake  is  used  in  some  sections.  Li<j:ht  rations  are  <riven.  ^^'hen 
cattl<>  are  fed  in  the  yard  or  stal)le  in  sununc'r.  they  aiv  soiled  on 
alfalfa  and  clovei-.  In  some  instances  l)eet  i)uli).  which  has  been 
stored  in  lon<r  i)its.  is  used  w  ith  irood  results. 

Tn  winter  the  jrrain  ration  consists  of  al»out  :^>  pounds  per  animal 
at  the  be<rinnin<r  and  is  jjfradually  increased  to  S  or  10  [pounds,  which 
is  considered  a  heavy  Ln'ain  allowance  even  during  the  fini-hiuL^  period. 
IIoui(>-iirown  r<)U<rhaire  is  irenerally  used.  Practically  all  feeders 
conunend  the  use  of  succulent  feed  for  winter  feedin^^.  Compai'ed 
with  American  systems,  the  irrain  rations  are  nuich  li<j:hter  (less  than 
one-half),  and  the  amomit  of  rouirhaiie  fed  is  al»out  double.  The 
<rains  per  day  ar(>  about  two-thii'ds  {\\o  amount  obtained  by  the  i)est 
American  feeders.     lve[)resentative  winter  rations  are  a-  follows: 


34 


BURFAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 


Farm  No.  1. — This  is  a  large  farm  in  the  north  of  France,  where 
a  considerable  number  of  cattle  are  fattened  each  winter.  On  this 
farm  there  is  a  large  silo  and  a  sugar  distillery.  The  silage  is  made 
of  green  alfalfa  and  clover,  and  is  excellent.  The  sugar  distillery 
supplies  a  large  amount  of  beet  pulp.  Three  ditferent  rations  have 
been  used  with  excellent  results. 

A  ration  composed  of  silage,  00  pounds:  oat  straw,  10  pounds; 
ground  barley,  5  pounds,  corn  meal,  3  pounds,  and  cotton-seed  meal, 
2  pounds  is  sometimes  used.  This  ration  is  fed  in  three  feeds,  the 
silage  morning  and  night,  with  one-half  of  the  grain  ration  fed  at 
each  feed,  and  the  oat  straw  for  a  midday  feed.  A  second  ration  is 
composed  of  beet  pulp,  100  pounds;  alfalfa,  12  pounds;  oat  straw, 
5  pounds;  ground  barley.  3  pounds;  corn  meal,  3  pounds,  and  cotton- 
seed meal,  '2  pounds. 

The  most  connnon  ration  fed  on  this  estate  includes  both  silage  and 
beet  pulp  and  is  composed  as  follows:  Beet  pulj),  60  pounds;  silage, 
30  pounds:  clover  hay,  5  pounds;  oat  straw.  8  pounds;  ground  bar- 
ley, 3  pounds;  corn  meal,  2  pounds,  and  cotton-seed  cake,  2  pounds. 
The  hay  is  fed  in  the  early  morning,  the  beet  j^ulp  and  half  of  the 
grain  ration  about  8  o'clock  in  the  morning,  the  oat  straw  at  noon, 
and  the  silage  and  the  remainder  of  the  grain  ration  at  night. 

Ration  for  steers  fed  in  northern  France. 


Feeding  stuff. 


Beet  pulp 

Alfalfa  and  clover  silage 

Clover  hay 

Oat  straw 

Ground  barley 

Corn  meal-  _ 

Cotton-seed  cake 


Quan-    Dry  mat-'  ^H'^^^^  !  bte^clr-'    Digesti- '   Nutri- 
tity.     i      ter.      ,  ^te  Pf «      ^^^Z,_\''^^'^'-      rll^. 


Pounds,  j 
60 

30  I 

5 : 

8 

3  j 
2 

2 ; 


Pounds.  I  Pounds. 


6.120 
S.-ttD 
4.235 
7.264 
2. 673 
1.782 
1.836 

32.310 


0.360 
.750 
.340 


Pounds. 
4.380 
3.000 
1.790  ' 


Pounds. 


.096 

3.088 

.261 

1.968 

.158 

1.334 

.744 

.338 

2.709 

15.898 

0.450 
.085 
.064 
.048 
.086 
.244 


Farm  Xo.  2. — This  farm  is  located  in  the  east  central  portion  of 
France.  The  ration  used  is  simple  and  contains  a  large  amount  of 
home-grown  feeds.  The  roughage  consists  of  clover  hay,  IC)  pounds; 
oat  straw,  G  pounds;  fodder  beets,  30  pounds;  corn  meal,  3  pounds; 
ground  barley,  2  pounds;  dried  brewers'  grains,  3  pounds,  and  lin- 
seed cake,  2  pounds.  The  hay  is  fed  in  two  feeds,  morning  and  night, 
the  straw  at  noon,  the  roots  in  the  evening,  and  the  grain  morning 
and  eveninir. 


CATTLE,  SHEEP,  AND    HOG    FEEDING    IN    EUROPE. 


35 


Ration  for  xtrcrH  fed  in  east  central  France. 


Feeding  stuffs. 


Clover  hay 

Oat  Htniw 

Fodder  beeta 

Com  meal 

Qroxmd  Iwrley 

Dried  hrewers'  gruins . 
Linseed  cake 


Quan- 
tity. 


Pmmda. 
1« 
6 

:« 


^•7„?*^  bi? 


PiK-ti-l^igostl- 


tefn. 


blecar-  DiKi-titi- 
bohy-  ble  fat. 
drat«8. 


PouruU.    l^rundn.     PimiuU.    Ponndn. 


13.552 
.5.448 
2.730 
2.«ra 
1.7K2 
2.754 
1.816 


LOW 
.072 

.:«» 

.237 
.174 
.471 
..586 


5. 724 
2.31« 
l.f2i) 
2.001 
1.312 
l.t«J 
.«54 


80.755 


2.968  I      14.710 


0.272 

.048 

.(i:;o 

.12» 
MH 

.  1.5:1 

.140 

>H1 


Nutri- 
tive 
ratio. 


.58 


FEEDING    METHODS    IN    Al  STKIA-IIL  NOARY. 
BREKDINO    CATTLE. 

AMiere  land  is  rough  and  is  used  almost  solely  for  grazing  the 
methods  of  feeding  breeding  animals  in  this  country  are  rather  primi- 
tive. Grass  supplies  the  feed  during  the  summer  and  roughage  the 
winter  ration.  In  these  districts  cattle  are  kept  almost  entirely  for 
beef  and  the  calves  are  generally  allowed  to  suckle  their  dams. 

In  the  more  fertile  and  densely  settled  districts,  where  land  is 
very  valuable,  cattle  are  stabled  practically  all  of  the  time,  but  this 
practice  is  considered  detrimental  for  V)reeding  stock,  and  the  most 
valuable  breeding  cows  and  all  young  cattle  intended  for  breeding 
purposes  are  given  as  much  outdoor  exercise  as  possible.  Permanent 
pastures  are  very  rare,  and  therefore  these  animals  are  usually  grazed 
on  the  grass  lots,  on  grain  fields  after  the  removal  of  the  crop,  or  on 
forage  crops.  They  are  also  soiled  on  alfalfa,  clover,  corn,  or  a 
combination  of  cereals,  and  have  a  small  allowance  of  crushed  oats, 
corn,  and  wheat  bran.  Large  amounts  of  beet  pulp  are  fed  in  all 
parts  of  the  country.  The  young  animals  are  well  fed  from  l)irth 
until  maturity.  From  weaning  until  maturity  they  are  grazed  and 
yard  fed  during  the  summer  and  fed  on  alfalfa  or  clover  hay  with 
some  corn,  oats,  and  bran,  and  .sometimes  linseed  cake,  during  the 
winter.  On  one  of  the  best  farms  inspected  in  the  vicinity  of  Vienna 
the  calves  during  the  first  winter  after  weaning  are  fed  from  (>  to 
12  pounds  of  alfalfa,  according  to  size  and  age,  and  from  ;^  to  «> 
pounds  of  a  grain  mixture  consisting  of  two  parts  shelkHl  corn,  one  of 
oats,  one  of  bran,  and  one  of  linseed  cake  i)er  head  per  day.  The 
yearlings  are  fed  from  10  to  IC)  pounds  of  alfalfa  and  .'5  pounds  of  a 
grain  mixture  of  two  parts  corn  to  one  of  bran  In'  weight.  On 
other  farms  somewhat  similar  winter  rations  are  used.  In  some 
instances  more  grain  is  fed.  especially  when  other  roughage  than 
alfalfa  is  used;   in  .some  in.stances  no  grain  at  all  is  given. 


36 


BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 


FATTENING    CATTI.K. 

Cattle  are  fed  and  finished  for  market  at  all  seasons  of  the  year. 
On  acconnt  of  the  large  number  which  are  fattened  on  grass  alone 
and  marketed  during  the  sununer  and  fall,  an  oversupply  is  likely 
to  occur  at  that  season  of  the  year,  and  many  feeders  prefer 
late  fall  and  winter  feeding.  Home-grown  feeds  are  used  as  far  as 
possible,  and  the  use  of  commercial  feeding  stuffs  is  limited  and 
resorted  to  only  when  their  addition  will  render  possible  the  use  of 
some  home-groAvn  product  which  would  otherwise  be  rejected. 
Younger  animals  are  fed  more  frequently  than  mature  cows  or  bul- 
locks. It  is  quite  a  common  practice  to  feed  the  latter  animals  but 
twice  per  day. 

The  following  rations  represent  those  fed  on  the  best  farms: 
F<tnn  Xo.  1. — Alfalfa,  16  pounds;  oat  straw,  5  pounds:  corn  meal, 
()  pounds ;  crushed  oats,  4  pounds.  The  alfalfa  is  fed  in  two  feeds — 
morning  and  evening,  the  straw  at  noon,  and  the  grain  in  tAvo  equal 
feeds — morning  and  evening.  The  animals  make  good  growth  on  this 
ration  and  take  on  flesh  rapidly.  All  of  the  feeds  used  are  grown  on 
the  farm. 

Ration  for  sfccrx  fed  in  Austria-HinKjari/  {fdim  Xo.  1). 


Feeding  stuff. 


Alfalfa  hay._ 
Oat  straw  . . . 
Corn  meal . . . 
Crushed  oats 


Quan- 
tity. 


Dry 
matter. 


Pounds.    Pounds. 


T^.     ^i      Digesti- 
ble wo      ^l*'  ^'ai'-    Digesti- 
t.Fr       l^ohy-      blefat. 


Nutri- 
tive 


drates. 


Potmds.    P<>u}uls.    Pounds. 


16 

U.656 
4.540 

1.T60 
.060 

6.** 

\.m) 

O.Kt2    .... 

5 

.04f)  ' 

6 

5.346 

.474 

4.002 

.258  1 

4 

3.560 

.368 

1.892 

.168  L. 

28. 102 


2.662 


Farm  Xo.  J. — Corn  fodder,  20  pounds;  clover  hay,  10  pounds;  corn 
meal,  5  pounds:  ground  barley,  4  pounds;  linseed  cake,  2  i)ounds.  The 
corn  fodder  is  fed  in  the  morning,  the  grain  in  one  feed  at  4  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon,  and  the  clover  hay  in  the  evening.  This  ration  is 
used  in  the  feeding  of  grass-grown  cattle  with  fairly  good  results. 
All  feed  excei)t  the  cake  is  home  grown. 

Ration  for  .^trcr.^  fed  in  Aiistria-II nngart/  (faun  Xo.  2). 


Feeding  stuff. 


Corn  fodder. . . 

Clover  hay 

Corn  meal 

Wround  barley 
Linseed  cake.. 


Quan- 
tity. 


Dry 
matter. 


Pounds. 
20 
10 
5 
4 
2 


Pouuds. 

n.m) 

8.470 
4.4w'> 
3. 564 
1.816 

29.8&5 


Digesti- 
ble pro- 
tein. 


Pounds. 

0.  .500 

.r.80 

.;j95 
.;i48 

.  5^6 
2.509 


Digesti- 
>)le  car- 
bohy- 
drates. 


Pounds. 
6.930 
3.  .580 
3. 3:i5 
2. 624 
.1)54 

17. 113 


Digesti- 
ble fat. 


Pounds. 
0.24O 
.170 
.  215 
.064 
.140 

.829 


Nutri- 
tive 
ratio. 


1:7.56 


CATTLE,  SHEEP,  AND    HOG    FEEDING    IN    EUROPE. 


37 


Farm  X<>.  J. — Sii«jar-l)eot  pulp,  00  pounds;  alfalfa  hay,  10  j)()iincls; 
corn  nioal,  .")  pomids,  'J'his  ration  is  used  in  the  fccdin^r  of  mature 
cattle  and  «j[ivos  cxccllont  rosults.  On  tlu*  same  farm  the  owner  i)re- 
viously  experinuMited  with  l)eet  pulp  to  determine  the  proper  amounts 
to  feed  and  the  most  satisfactory  adjinicts  to  us<'  in  coiniection  with 
it,  his  object  hein<;  to  use  as  nnich  of  the  l)ulj)  as  j)()ssil)le.  Aftei-  ^iv- 
in^  various  rations  a  fair  test  he  adopted  the  one  above  mentioned. 
When  lai'p'r  amounts  of  j)ulj)  are  fed  it  has  a  i)ronounce<l  and  <)i)jec- 
tionable  laxative  effect.  The  alfalfa  is  fed  to  suj)j)ly  the  j)rotein 
lacking  in  the  beet  pulp,  and  the  corn  meal  to  give  a  firmer  finish  and 
for  its  favorable  influence  in  counteracting  the  laxative  effect  of  the 
rest  of  the  feed  used. 


nation  for  steers  fed  in  Aiistria-Hiiiif/ari/  (farm  .Yo.  3). 


Fet'diliK  stuff. 


tity. 


matter. 


I  PoHnds.\  Pminds.\  Ptnindn.  l'i)undn.     Ponndn 

Beet  pulp 90          9. 1H<)          <)..>«)          (i..-)7o 

Alfalfahay Hi         U.twyj  I        1.7(a)          »>.:{«! 

Com  meal 5          4. 455            .  395          3. 3:^5 


38.291 


2.6ft5         ltt.^11 


Nutri- 


r)iwe«tl     Digesti- 
9uan-         Dry        ^iS  .    hie  car-    DiKenti-      -  Jv 

**'"•        dratlH*.  "'^' 


(Mi« 
.215    .. 

.4<»r 

1:6.37 

(iKKM  \N     l-KKDINi;    AIKTIIODS. 
1!KKKI)IN(;    (  AITI.K. 

Tn  northern  (lermany,  and  to  some  extent  in  the  western  ])art.  all 
breeding  animals  are  grazed  during  the  summer  and  early  fall. 
Where  stable  or  yard  feeding  is  })racticed  during  the  summer  a  va- 
riety of  soiling  crops  is  supplied.  These  lonsist  of  green  rye  'v.\  the 
early  spring,  followed  1)V  clover  or  alfalfa  in  those  districts  where 
they  can  be  grown  to  advantage,  then  various  mixtures  of  cereals, 
such  as  oats  and  l)arlev.  jM'as.  oats,  and  barley,  followed  by  lupines, 
green  corn,  alfalfa,  etc.;  it  is  the  exi'eption  for  concentrated  feed  to 
be  fed  in  addition.     Cattle  are  usually  fed  three  times  pei-  day. 

The  winter  rations  vary  according  to  the  age  of  the  animal  and  the 
supply  of  feed  available.  For  young  animals  clover  and  alfalfa  are 
most  generally  used  for  roughage,  and  in  addition  a  small  grain 
allowance  is  usually  given.  Older  animals  are  given  a  moderate 
allowance  of  roughage.  When  fed  largely  on  cloxcr  or  alfalfa  they 
receive  little  concentrated  feed,  but  when  the  roughage  consists 
largely  of  poor  hay  or  straw  a  small  allowance  of  cake  is  usually 
given  in  addition.  All  animals.  l)ulls  m  particular,  are  maintained 
in  a  thrifty  condition  without  the  slightest  tendency  toward  obesity. 
Bulls  are  often  used  for  labor  ,is  well  as  for  l)reeding. 


38 


BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL   INDUSTRY. 


FATTENING  CATTLE. 

Cattle  are  fed  for  beef  throughout  the  entire  country.  In  the 
grazing  districts  they  are  nearly  always  finished  on  grass  and 
marketed  during  the  summer  and  fall.  Some  farmers  use  cake 
(especially  cotton  cake)  in  addition  to  grass,  but  the  practice  is  by 
no  means  general.  In  the  farming  districts  cattle  are  soiled  and  fed 
on  the  by-products  of  sugar  factories  and  brcAveries.  Rather  long 
feeding  periods  are  customary,  with  low-pressure  feeding  and  the 
use  of  rather  large  amounts  of  roughage  and  proportionally  small 
amounts  of  concentrated  feeds.  Beef  production,  as  seen  on  the  best 
British  or  American  farms,  does  not  exist  in  Germany.  However, 
where  beet  pulp  or  wet  brewers'  grains  are  used,  heavy  feeding  and 
rapid  gains  are  the  rule. 

In  some  parts  of  Germany,  especially  the  southern  and  eastern 
portions,  cattle  are  often  used  for  labor  for  a  few  years  and  are  then 
fattened  for  market.  Cow  beef  and  2-year-old  or  3-year-old  bulls 
are  very  conspicuous  on  nearly  all  of  the  leading  markets,  and  really 
prime  beef  is  the  exception.  Although  this  may  be  due  in  part  to 
the  absence  of  distinct  beef  breeds  of  cattle,  the  methods  of  German 
cattlemen  are  very  different  from  those  of  British  and  American 
feeders.  A  very  large  number  of  calves  are  marketed  as  veal  at 
from  six  to  twelve  weeks  of  age;  some  of  these  calves  suckle  the 
dams,  but  the  majority  are  hand  fed  on  skim  milk  and  grain.  When 
cattle  are  fattened  during  the  summer  on  the  cultivated  farms  and 
soiled  the  majority  of  farmers  prefer  having  the  soiling  crops  well 
advanced  toward  maturity  before  using  them.  In  addition  to  the 
green  crops,  from  G  to  10  pounds  of  concentrated  feed  are  usually 
given.  A  ration  of  corn  meal  and  cotton-seed  cake  in  equal  parts 
is  very  highly  favored.  The  fall  and  winter  rations  vary  according 
lo  the  availability  of  roughage  and  sugar-factory  or  brcAvery  by- 
products. 

The  following  rations  are  representative  and  convey  a  fair  idea  of 
German  fattening  rations : 

Farm  A«9.  1. — Clover  hay,  10  pounds;  oat  straw,  G  pounds;  wet 
brewers'  grains,  50  pounds,  and  corn  meal,  4  pounds. 


Ration  for  fitecrx  fed  in  Grrmuny  {farm  .Yo.  1). 


Feeding  stuflf.                        '    ^ity"" 

Dry      i  Digest! 

Digesti- 
ble car-    Digesti- 
bohy-      ble  fat. 
drates. 

Nutri- 
tive 
ratio. 

Pounds. 
Clover  hay 10 

Pounds. 
8.470 
5.448 
12. 150 
3.564 

Pounds. 

0.680 

.072 

i.av) 

.316 

Pounds. 
3.580 
2.316 
4.650 
2.668 

Pounds 

0. 170 

.048 

.700 

.172 

Oat  straw 6 

Wet  brewers'  grains                                 .              50 

Com  meal 4 

2X632 

3.018 

13.214  '        1(190 

1:5.19 

1 

CATTLE,  SHEEP,  AND    HOG    FEEDING    IN    EUKOPE. 


39 


Farm  So.  2. — Alfalfa,   15   pounds;  Ixvt   pulp,   100  pounds;   ((trii 
meal,  -5  pounds,  and  linseed  cake,  .'i  pounds. 


If  at  ion  for  Hticrn  fid  in  (In  ma  nil  ifarnt  So.  2) 
Finding  HUitf.  ^}^"- 


Nutri- 


^""y       hfc*!'    »^1<^"»"-    DiK.-«ti.  , 


tuiu. 


drut«t«. 


j  Pouniln. 

Alfalfa  hay 15 

Bw't  pulp : .i  1«» 

Corn  mt'al '.i 

Liiiwetl  cake 3 


Ptntndn.     PouhiIm.     Poundn.     I'lninils. 

13.  "•«)  1.  «.'>()  5. 94<>  (I.  IMO  .  

lO.aW  .flW)  ,        7.:«K)  Am    

2.6~{         .ar       2.iv\         AW  

2.724  .«79  I  .9«1  j  .210  \ 

25I..B7  I       3.:#»  '      1«.222  .519  1:5.17 


Farm  Xo.  -L — Clover  hay,  10  pounds:  oat  straw,  10  pounds;  su^ar 
lK»ets,  20  j)ouiuls;  dried  brewers'  grains.  5  pounds,  and  cotton-seed 
cake.  .")  pounds. 

Ration  for  steers  fed  in  Clerniany  (farm  \o.  S). 


Feeding  stuff. 


Quan- 
tity. 


Dl•^• 


DiKe«ti 


matter.    '^^^P;:^ 


Digesti- 

bl(^  car-  Digewti- 
b<)hy-  i  ble  fat. 
drates.  ' 


Xutri- 
tive 
ratio. 


Ponndx.  Poiittds.  j  Poutida. 

Clover  hay 10  H.470  1        0.6»()  , 

Oatstraw !             10  it.OSfl  '          .la) 

Sugarljeets '             ai  2.700            .230 

Dried  brewers' grains 5  4..5itO  i          .7H5 

Cotton-seed  take.. ..                .5  4..590  !        \.mi  ' 


29. 430 


3.()«5 


Pounds.  PoHiidx. 

3.5K)  0.170    

3.8«0  .(M)    

2.040  .020    

1.H15  i  .2ai>    

.K4.5  i  .«10    

12.14(J,  1.135  1:4.01 


In  many  instances  German  feeders  have  used  much  lar<rer  quanti- 
ties of  beet  pulp  and  wet  brewers'  <rrains  than  were  fed  in  these 
rations,  but  the  majority  believe  that  the  best  results  are  ol^tained 
when  from  ('»0  to  100  pounds  of  beet  pulp  or  about  ."iO  j)oun(ls  of  wet 
brewers'  grains  are  fed  per  animal  per  day  with  other  kinds  of  fee(l. 
The  brewers'  grains  are  somewhat  too  rich  in  protein  for  good 
results,  and  by  the  addition  of  other  feeding  stutl's  a  much  better 
balanced  ration  is  obtained. 


DAIRY  CATTLE. 
DAIRY    METHODS    IX    GREAT    BRITAIN    AND    IRELAND. 

England. 

Cattle  of  the  dairy  breeds  in  England  appear  to  be  quite  well  fed. 
Guernseys  and  Jerseys,  for  example,  are  kept  in  much  better  condi- 
tion than  in  their  native  islands.  Young  animals  are  usually  better 
developed  at  the  same  age  and  mature  ones  are  larger,  and  breeders 
do  not  seem  to  object  seriously  to  flesh,  especially  on  young  stock. 

FEEDING  BREEDING  STOCK. 

Bull  calves  are  raised  in  the  usual  manner  by  pail  feeding,  having 
whole  milk  for  three  or  four  weeks,  and  after  that  skim  milk,  roots, 
and  hay.  or  skim  milk,  grain,  and  cake.  Rations  of  equal  parts  Avhole 
milk  and  skim  milk  are  fed  on  some  farms.  One  very  successful 
breeder  feeds  G-months-old  bulls  on  a  ration  of  skim  milk  20  pounds, 
flaxseed  meal  one-half  pound  (boiled  and  added  to  the  milk),  clover 
hay  5  pounds,  sliced  mangels  10  pounds,  crushed  oats  2  pounds,  bran  1 
pound,  and  linseed  cake  1  pound. 

Heifer  calves  are  not  fed  so  much  grain  and  cake  as  bulls.  They 
are  bred  from  15  months  to  2  years  of  age. 

Breeding  bulls  are  maintained  in  low  condition,  and  grain  and 
cake  are  usually  fed  only  to  young  bulls  or  mature  ones  doing  heavy 
service.  Feeds  like  corn  meal,  pea  meal,  bean  meal,  and  ground 
barley  are  used  sparingly  and  in  conjunction  with  cooling  feeds  like 
roots  and  green  forage.     A  great  deal  of  exercise  is  given. 

FEEDING    DAIRY    COWS. 

The  production  of  milk  generally  forms  an  important  part  of 
English  farming  operations,  and  dual-puri)ose  cows  are  usually  kept. 
The  blood  of  the  milking  Shorthorn  prevails  in  practically  all  parts 
of  the  country,  and  the  special-i)urpose  dairy  breeds  are  more  largely 
found  on  the  estates  of  the  wealthy  classes  and  the  nobility  thnn  on 
the  farms  of  the  snuill  tenant  farmers.  The  market  value  of  the 
cows  at  the  end  of  the  milking  period  and  the  demand  for  calces  from 
such  cows  for  feeding  exert  an  important  influence  in  popularizing 

40 


CATTLE.  SHEEP,  AND    HOG    FEEDING    TN    EUROPE. 


41 


the  cows  of  the  (hml-piirpose  type.  This  condition  of  affairs,  in  a 
measure,  lias  an  influence  on  methods  of  feeding.  As  milk  i  not  t!ie 
only  source  of  revenue  for  which  cows  are  maintained,  methods  of 
feetlin^  have  not  always  received  as  close  study  from  such  frirmcis 
as  is  ^iven  the  sul)j<'ct  when  dairy  farmin<r  is  conducted  as  a  specially. 
Mangels,  carrots,  white,  yellow,  and  swede  turnips,  and  cahhap' 
are  fed.  Turnips  are  ^iven  in  lar«;e  (piantities  eithei-  before  or  afl<'r 
milkin<r.  In  some  private  dairies,  especially  on  Iar<re  estates,  which 
:ire  run  i)rincij)ally  to  supply  the  landlords'  hous<'holds,  care  is  used  to 
select  feed  which  will  not  impart  undesirahle  flavors  to  the  millc, 
hut  in  a  larjre  nmnher  of  commei'cial  dairies  this  discriminjition  is 
not  exercised. 

All  fwders  feed  at  least  thriH'  times  daily  and  many  }r\vv  six  (,r 
seven  feeds. 

A  few  representative  rations  fed  to  milch  cows  in  Kn«?land  are 
given  helow  : 

Fdriu  Xo.  1. — This  farm  is  located  in  Berkshire  and  is  stocked  with 
high-class  fJersey  cows,  the  milk  from  which  is  used  to  supply  a 
fancy  butter,  cream,  and  milk  trade.  The  rations  fed  are  said  by 
prominent  dairymen  to  be  the  best  in  ?2ngland. 

During  the  summer  each  cow  is  fed  daily,  in  addition  to  grass, 
2  pounds  of  undecorticated  cotton-seed  cake,  o  pounds  of  wheat 
bran,  and  8  j)()un(ls  of  clover  hay.  The  daily  winter  ration  is  com- 
posed of  3  pounds  crushed  oats,  4  pounds  wheat  bran.  '1  i)oun(ls  cot- 
ton-seed cake,  '2  pounds  bean  meal,  15  pounds  mangels.  10  pomids 
cut  hay,  and  M  i)ounds  long  hay  |)er  head.  The  grain  and  cake  are 
mixed  with  the  cut  hay,  scalded,  and  fed  in  two  feeds — one  in  early 
morning  and  the  other  in  late  afternoon:  tlH>  roots  are  fed  after  milk- 
ing in   the  morning  and   the  long  hay   is   fed   after  milkini:   :ii   the 

evening. 

liiition   for  (laiiji  coirs  fcil   in    Itcrhsliirc.   KiKjhiml. 


FtH'<ling  stiitf . 


tity. 


Dry        K;        ble  car- 
mutter     '".'^  ?.  bdhy- 
(Inites. 


t.-ni. 


Digest! 
ble  fat. 


Nutri- 
tive 
i*ati.>. 


Mixed  hay.   

Mangels 

Bran 

Crushed  oats 

Cotton-seetl  cake 
Bean  meal 


Poumls. 

H-«in<ls. 

I'a 

•mil.-.. 

/'. 

.in„ls. 

/• 

>uu,h. 

IS 

i:).(i:s 

l.litM 

l.iKi:.' 
.  Hi.-, 

7  :«t> 

..SKI 

(•.2ii; 
.111.-, 

1.-) 

4 

:i 

:i.  :>24 
•i.iiTo 

.4.S'< 
.  -71) 

1 .  .Vi"^ 
1   4l!i 

.iiw 
IrJii 

2 

i.s*; 

.744 

.:^^ 

.244 

•> 

1.714 

.Wi 

.i<f*<i 

.ir_'4 

•M.  7S7 

■i.  IK} 

12.4.s:< 

.7:« 

1:4.44 

Farm  \o.  2. — This  farm  is  located  in  Cheshire,  and  is  stocked  with 
purel)red  milking  Sjiorthorns.  During  the  summer  months  each 
cow  in  full  milk  receives,  in  addition  to  grass,  a  daily  grain  mixture 


42 


BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 


composed  of  2  pounds  dried  brewers'  grains,  1  pound  bran,  2  pounds 
undeeortioated  cotton-seed  cake,  and  1  pound  of  linseed  cake.  The 
fall  and  winter  rations  are  composed  of  mixed  hay,  15  pounds;  oat 
straw,  7  pounds;  swedes,  CO  pounds;  wet  brewers'  grains,  10  pounds; 
cotton-seed  cake,  8  pounds:  corn  meal,  5  })ounds,  and  wheat  bran,  4 
pounds.  The  cows  receive  both  morning  and  evening  a  mixture  of 
cut  hay,  pidi)ed  swedes,  wet  brewers'  grains,  and  some  bran,  amount- 
ing in  all  to  about  15  pounds  at  each  feed,  in  the  form  of  a  scalded 
nuish.  The  remainder  of  the  swedes  is  fed  in  two  feeds  of  about  25 
j)ounds  each,  morning  and  evening.  The  straw  is  given  at  the  last 
feed  at  night.  The  corn  meal  and  cotton  cake  are  mixed  and  fed  in 
two  equal  feeds,  morning  and  evening.  About  8  pounds  of  long  hay 
is  fed  as  a  midday  feed,  the  remainder  being  cut  and  fed  in  conjunc- 
tion with  bran,  swedes,  and  wet  brewers'  grains.  From  the  stand- 
point of  both  milk  production  and  the  maintenance  of  a  health}^  con- 
dition of  the  cows  the  ration  was  satisfactorv. 


Ration  for  (hiiry  cous  fed  in  Cheshire.  Euf/land. 


Feeding  stuff. 


tity.     I      ter.        ^>\^Pf«   'carbohy-    ble  fat.  |    ,^V^^ 
i   urates. 


ratio. 


I  Pounds.  ■  Pounds.  \  PoiDids.    Pounds.    Pounds, 


Mixed  hay 

Oat  straw 

Swedes 

Wet  brewers'  grains 

Cotton-seed  cake 

Com  meal 

Wheat  bran 


15  1 

13.065 

7 

6.a56 

60  ! 

6.000 

10  1 

2.430 

3  i 

2.7^4 

5 

4.465 

4  1 

3.524 

38.584 

0.8!-o 
.084 
.600 
.390 

1.116. 
.395 
.488 


6. 135 
2.702 
4.800 
.930 
.507 
3.335 
1.5()8 


3.958 


19.97 


0.180 

.056    

.120 

.140 

.:^66    

.215    

.im    

I.ia5  1:.5.73 


Farm  Xo.  S. — This  farm  is  located  in  the  county  of  Cumberland 
and  carries  a  herd  of  40  high-grade  Shorthorn  dairy  cows.  Dur- 
ing the  summer  months  no  other  feed  than  pasture  is  furnished. 
The  Avinter  ration  is  different  from  that  seen  on  any  other  farm 
visited,  and  produces  a  good  flow  of  milk.  All  of  the  feeding 
stuffs,  with  the  exception  of  "the  cake,  are  grown  on  the  farm.  The 
daily  feeding  per  head  is  as  follows:  At  5  a.  m.,  4  pouiuls  cut  sheaf 
oats,  7  pounds  j>ulped  swedes,  1^  pounds  cotton-seed  cake,  and  Im- 
pounds linseed  cake,  all  mixed  together  before  feeding:  7  a.  m., 
14  pounds  of  whole  swedes  and  7  pounds  of  long  mixed  hay:  5*  a.  m.,  7 
l)ounds  of  the  same  mixture  which  was  fed  at  5  a.  m. :   10  a.  m., 

7  pounds  long  hay:  12  m..  ;U  pounds  long  hay:  2.:^0  p.  m.,  same  as  at 
5  a.  m. ;  4  p.  m..  14  })()uiids  whole  swedes:  7  p.  m.,  7  pounds  of  cab- 
bage and  7  jiounds  long  hay.     The  cows  are  watered  twice  a  day,  at 

8  a.  m.  and  3  ]).  m. 


CATTLE,  SHEEP,  AND    liOG    FEEDING    IX    Kl'KOPE. 


43 


ItiitUm  fur  ilairii  ohim  f<d  in  <'uitihrihitnl,  liiii/lninl 
FeeiliiiK  Htuflf. 


Onan.    i     Dry     |  feV/    '^«^--     Di^.-ti-     ^^l^} 
^*'"-        (Irati'H. 


llle  fat. 


ratii, 


Mixed  hiiy 

HwtMleH 

Sheaf  oats 

Ootton-aeed  cake. 

Llnwed  <aike 

(^)>1hik<' 


Pi>un(l». 
24.5 
45.  r, 
10 
3. 75 
3.75 


Pounds.  I  Jlmnih.     /'iiiiiiiIm.     I'hiiihIk. 


21.340 
4.&'i() 
».11() 
3.44:} 
3.4()5 

i.firi 

42.919 


1.444! 

.  4.V> 

.4:«l 

l.*5 

I.UIU 

.128 


lit.<l21 
3. 1144) 
4.<'>40 

.tKM 
1.22»l 

.574 


4.961         20. 7:15 


0. 2U4 
.(IN) 
.  l.-iO 
.4> 
.•Mi 

1.2K} 


1  ;4.n 


Farm  Xo.  .'4. — Thi.s  farm  is  located  in  Norfolk  and  is  storkod  witli 
one  of  the  lar<j:est  herds  of  Red  PoUed  cows  to  l)e  found  in  En<rhind. 
Diirin<;  the  siininier  months  all  cows  which  have  not  been  in  milk 
seven  months  are  fed  a  mixture  of  undecorticated  cotton  cake  and 
linseed  cake,  in  addition  to  the  <rrass.  The  amount  fed  varies  from 
3  to  5  ])ounds  per  cow  ])er  day.  The  winter  rations  are  composed  of 
mixed  hay,  roots,  and  a  frrain  mixture  of  crushed  oats,  wheat  hran. 
linseed  cake,  and  cotton  cake.  AVhile  some  turnips  are  fed  durin<r  the 
fall  months,  mandrels  are  relied  upon  very  lai-irely  to  fui-nish  succu- 
lent feed  durin<;  the  wintei*.  The  ration  fed  in  January  to  cows  in 
full  milk  was  composed  of  mixed  hay,  jJO  j)ounds  ( 10  i)ounds  of  whi»-h 
was  cut  and  mixed  with  pulped  man<rels  and  irrain):  man^j^els,  (W) 
ix)unds:  crushed  oats,  8  })oinids;  i)ran,  H  i)()unds:  linseed  cake.  •'? 
pounds,  and  cotton-seed  cake,  H  pounds.  The  rows  were  fed  a  mix- 
ture of  cut  hay,  pulped  manfjels.  and  half  of  the  irrain  and  cake  in  the 
early  morning  and  before  milkinir  in  the  evenin<r.  The  lon<r  hay  was 
fed  at  noon  and  night,  while  the  roots  were  fed  at  s  a.  m.  and  '■)  j).  m. 

Ration  for  dairy  coir.'<  fril  in  \  or  folk.  Hnr/land. 


Feeding  stuff. 


Quan-  Dry        ^1^^^,^    ^^l^'^^r'-    Di^cesti-      ^"^y.*" 

tity.        matter.  ^1;;.^^"-,   ^^>y-       blc  fat.       ^-, 


Mixed  hay. 

Mange  1.S 

Cru.shed  oats 

Wheat  bran 

Linseed  t-ake 

C!otton-8eed  cake. 


Pouiiflx. 

Poiind.i. 

Po 

k/k/.k. 

p< 

llliul.s. 

17.420 

l.l.s<l 

x.]m 

0. 24<) 

.i.4«i(l 

.t>)il) 

3.2441 

.iit;ii 

2.(!70 

.27(i 

1.41«.t 

.i:n; 

•>.CM 

.:«»> 

i.iri; 

.IISl 

■>.  724 

.  S7it 

.  iisi 

.2ln 

2. 7.->4 

i.iit; 

..-.<»7 

.:«)»; 

:«.  ti7l 


l.i..T»« 


l.tKJ 


1:4.  (HI 


Scotland. 
FEEniN(;  rmKKDi.Nc;  .\m.m.\i.s. 


The  breeding:  of  dairy  cattle  is  confined  almost  >()l('ly  to  the  south- 
west of  Scotland,  where  the  Avrshire  breed  is  maintained.     As  the 


44  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL   INDUSTRY. 

land  surface  is  rather  rough  and  broken  the  conditions  are  not  favor- 
able for  roots  or  gram  crops.  The  cattle  are  grazed  during  the  sum- 
mer and  maintained  largely  on  hay  and  grain  during  the  winter. 
Straw  is  fed.  but  not  to  the  same  extent  as  in  the  grain-growing  dis- 
tricts. Koots  are  fed  by  some  farmers,  but  their  use  is  limited  when 
compared  with  the  methods  prevailing  in  central  and  northern  Scot- 
land. The  aim  of  breeders  throughout  the  entire  district  is  to  main- 
tain their  aninuils  as  economicall}'^  as  possible.  While  they  are 
warndy  housed  during  the  coldest  months,  the  grazing  season  is 
much  longer  than  that  of  the  more  highly  arable  sections  of  the 
country.  Calves  are  raised  in  the  usual  way,  having  whole  milk  for 
two  or  three  weeks,  and  then  milk  or  sweet  whey  and  grain  until 
they  are  6  to  10  months  old.  Bulls  and  heifer  calves  are  fed  the 
same  way  until  they  are  12  months  of  age,  after  which  the  bulls  are 
confined  and  fed  more  grain  and  cake  than  the  heifers,  the  latter 
being  on  pasture  as  much  as  possible. 

On  the  farm  of  one  of  the  most  successful  breeders  of  Ayrshire 
cattle  the  calves  are  fed  during  the  winter  on  timothy  hay,  roots,  and 
a  grain  mixture  composed  of  equal  parts  crushed  oats,  wheat  bran, 
and  linseed  cake.  At  the  time  of  the  writer's  visit  in  January  the 
calves,  ranging  in  age  from  9  to  13  months,  were  eating  on  an  average 
10  pounds  of  hay,  15  jjounds  of  turnips,  and  4  pounds  of  the  grain 
and  cake  mixture  per  day.  On  other  farms  no  roots  are  fed  and  oat 
straw  is  given  as  part  of  the  roughage.  The  breeding  bulls  are  not 
maintained  in  very  high  condition.  Their  winter  rations  are  com- 
posed of  roughage,  grain  and  roots  when  they  are  grown.  During 
the  summer  a  great  deal  of  green  feed  is  fed. 

FEEDINC;    DAIRY    COWS. 

Scotch  farmers  do  not  patronize  creameries  and  cheese  factories, 
butter  and  cheese  being  niade  on  the  farms  where  the  milk  is  pro- 
duced. The  men  who  furnish  milk  to  the  city  dealers  do  not  as  a 
rule  milk  a  cow  more  tlian  ten  or  twelve  months.  They  are  con- 
tinually buying  fresh  milking  cows,  largely  of  Shorthorn  breeding, 
from  the  northern  counties  of  P2ngland.  and  are  selling  out  of  their 
j^tables  for  beef  cows  which  have  been  very  heavily  fed  throughout 
the  entire  milking  period  and  for  the  succeeding  four  or  five  months. 
Young  cows  which  have  dropi)ed  their  second  or  third  calves  are 
used,  as  they  milk  well,  fatten  readily,  and  return  the  greatest  profits 
for  the  feed  consumed. 

Dairymen  who  retain  their  cows  for  several  years  do  not  feed  so 
heavily.  The  cows  are  fairly  well  fed  during  the  first  five  months 
of  lactation,  and  the  amount  of  grain  and  cake  is  then  reduced  or 
omitted  entirely.     They  believe  that  this  method  of  feeding  gives 


CATTLE,  SHEEP,  AND    IKMS    KEED1.\(J    IN    EUKOPE, 


45 


the  cow  a  (•liaiicc  to  ivst,  and  lu'i*  jx'i'iod  of  iix'fiilin-ss  a^  a  Ijrrrdrr 
tiiul  niilUcr  is  therefore  very  luuch  h)ii«;er  than  when  heavily  f«'<l  on 
j;rain  and  cake. 

In  the  (hiiries  fioni  which  the  city  milk  trade  is  suj)plied  fecch'is  use 
hirjj^e  (|nantities  of  turnips  and  swedes — as  nnich  as  100  pounds  per 
cow  hein<j:  fed  (hiily — ^and  no  precautions  are  taken  in  re<i^ard  to  the 
time  of  feeding  tlieni.  The  stal>U's  are  liot,  without  any  provision  for 
ventihition.  These  methods  do  not  picxail  on  faiins  whei'e  butter 
and  cheese  aie  mainifactured.  Here  a  <;reat  deal  of  care  is  exercised 
to  avoid  injuring  the  flavor  or  texture  of  the  finished  pnxhict  by 
im})roper  feedin*;.  Some  (hiirvmen  cut  a  ^reat  (h'al  of  the  hay  and 
straw  and  mix  all  the  grain  and  cake  with  it,  and  either  steam  or 
scald  it  Ix'fore  feeding;.  On  other  farms  ])art  of  the  roughajje  is  cut. 
mixed  with  |)ulped  turnips,  <i;rain,  and  cake,  and  allowed  to  stand 
twelve  or  fifteen  hours  before  being  fed.  The  cows  are  fed  from  four 
to  nine  times  per  day. 

The  following  rations  are  fairly  rei)resentative : 

F(ini)  Xo.  1. — This  farm  is  located  within  2  miles  of  Edinburgh, 
and  the  methods  of  feeding  are  representative  of  those  j)ractic<Ml  by 
the  men  who  feed  their  cows  heavily  for  about  ten  or  twelve  months 
and  then  sell  them  to  the  butcher.  The  herd  contained  5(;  cows, 
nearly  all  of  wiiich  were  English-bred  Shorthorns  from  Ciunb  'rland. 
The  winter  ration  for  cows  in  full  milk  was  composed  of  100  pounds 
<.f  turnips,  fed  in  three  feeds — morning,  noon,  and  night:  70  pounds 
of  wet  brewers'  grains,  5  pounds  of  pea  meal,  and  10  pounds  of  oal 
straw.  The  pea  meal  was  fed  with  the  wet  brewers"  grains,  which 
were  given  in  two  feeds,  one  in  the  early  moiMiing  and  the  other  aI)out 
,"•  p.  m.     The  oat  straw  was  fed  at  night. 

h'ittion  far  dairj/  (■(iir.s  fed  near  Kilhibiinj}! .  SmtUiiul. 


Feeding  stuff. 


Turnips 

Wet  brewers'  ^rain 

( )at  straw 

Pea  meal 


Quan- 
tity. 


mndn. 

Til 
1(1 


Dry 

matter. 


'oUHiis. 

H.  .'jdd 
17.(11(1 
!I.(IH( 
4.475 
4(^.(»l^^ 


l.(lUt  j 

.H4<t  I 
4.t!!t«) 


V..<»</,s-. 

7.2«iO 
ti.oKI 

2..')i«l 
ill.  liUl 


Digesti- 
ble fat. 


Nutri- 
tivf 
ratio. 


Pound.'i. 

0.2UI      

.'.MJ  ■ 

.(N)  ' 

.(W  I 

l.-*<r.  1  :  4. it-' 


Furin  Xo.  2. — This  farm  is  located  in  the  county  of  Ayr.  and  on  it 
is  maintained  a  herd  of  70  cows.  The  milk  is  used  for  cheese  making. 
During  the  summer  the  cows  nn-eive  a  grain  mixture  of  '1  jxmnds 
bean  meal.  •!  pounds  wheat  bran,  and  1  pound  crushed  oats.  The 
winter  ration  is  c()mi)()sed  of  timothy  hay.  1.")  pounds:  oat  chati'.  •'> 
j)ounds;  crushed  oats.  :5  j)ounds:  wheat  bran.  .3  pounds;  linseed  cake. 
1  i)ounds,  and  bean  meal,  4  jHrnnds.     The  hay  is  fed  in  three  feed.s — 


46 


BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 


jnorning,  noon,  and  night;  the  grain  is  mixed  with  the  oat  chaff  and 
fed  in  two  feeds — morning  and  evening. 

Rutioti  for  dairy  cuics  fed  in  Ayrshire,  HeoUand. 


Feeding  stuff. 


Quan- 
tity. 


Timothy  ha>  . 

Oat  chaff 

Crushed  oats . 
Wheat  bran .  - 
Linseed  cake  _ 
Bean  meal 


^  I  Dicesti-  I  Digesti- 

Dry       bi'l^fi".  I  ble  car-    Digesti- 
matter.  |  "l®  ,P^"       bohy-      ble  fat. 
drates. 


tein. 


Pounds.    Pounds.  |  Pounds.  .  Pounds.    Pounds. 


Nutri- 
tive 
ratio. 


13.020 
4.285 
2.670 
2.643 
1.816 
3.428 


0.420 
.<J75 
.276 

.:«6 

.586 
.896 


6.510 
1.650 
1.419 
1.176 
.654 
1.972 


0.210 
.035 
.126 
.081 
.140 
.048 


27.862 


2.619  I   13.381 


.640 


1:5.16 


Farm  Xo.  3. — This  farm  is  located  in  Perthshire,  near  the  city  of 
Perth.  The  milk  supplies  the  city  trade.  The  herd  contains  40 
cows,  and  instead  of  selling  them  off  at  the  end  of  the  milking  period 
the  owner  breeds  them  to  a  good  purebred  Aberdeen- Angus  bull,  and 
the  calves  when  dropped  are  eagerly  sought  for  at  good  prices  by 
cattle  feeders,  who  rear  them  on  nurse  cows. 

The  Avinter  ration  is  oat  straw,  12  pounds;  turnips,  100  pounds; 
wet  brewers'  grains,  20  pounds;  linseed  cake,  2  pounds;  ground  bar- 
ley, 3  pounds ;  wheat  bran,  4  pounds,  and  bean  meal,  3  pounds.  The 
straw  is  fed  in  two  feeds,  the  turnips  in  three  feeds,  and  the  wet 
brewers"  grains  and  the  grain  and  cake  mixed  in  two  equal  feeds. 

Ration  for  dairy  coics  fed  in  Perthshire,  Scotland. 


Feeding  stuff. 


Di^esti     Digesti- 

Quan-         Dry     ,  Kf^o-    ^i«°*''- 

tity.       matter.    '^Z.FJ         bohy- 

1     ^*^°-     I  drates. 


Turnips 

Wet  brewers'  grains 

Oat  straw 

Linseed  cake 

Ground  barley  _ 

Wheat  bran 

Bean  meal 


Pounds.    Pounds.    Pounds.    Pounds. 


Digesti-     Nutri- 
^l^f'^t-l    r*aWo. 


100 

9.500 

1.000 

7.200 

20 

4.860 

.780 : 

1.860 

13 

10.896 

.144  ; 

4.632 

2 

1.816 

.586  1 

.654 

3 

2.673 

.261 

1.968 

4 

3.524 

.488 

1.568 

3 

2.571 

.672 

1.479 

;«.840 

3.931  j 

19.361 

Pounds. 

0.200   

.280  ' 

.096    

.140   

.048    

.108    

.036    

.908  1:5.44 


Farm  Xo.  4- — This  farm  is  located  in  the  county  of  Lanark  and 
maintains  a  herd  of  25  cows.  Butter  making  is  its  specialty.  Dur- 
ing the  suuimer  tlie  cows  are  fed  equal  parts  of  crushed  oats,  wheat 
bran,  and  dried  brewers'  grains,  in  addition  to  grass.  The  amount 
varies  from  4  to  T  pounds  ])er  coav  per  day,  according  to  the  condition 
of  the  pastures.  The  winter  ration  includes  20  pounds  of  mixed  hay, 
20  pounds  of  turnips,  3  pounds  bean  meal.  2  pounds  pea  meal,  3 
l)ounds  wheat  bran,  and  3  pounds  of  ground  barley.     The  turnips  are 


CATTLK,  SHEEP,  AND    liOG    FEEDING    IN    EUROPE. 


47 


ivA  iiimi(Mliat«'ly  after  inilkin«j;  in  the  iiioniin^  and  Ix'fore  the  cows 
are  let  out  in  the  fresh  air  for  e.\ereis<\ 

Uation  for  duiru  coirx  fed  in  LanarkHhirr,  Scotland. 


F»wdiun  stuff. 


Qusn- 

tity. 


Dry 

mat  tor. 


Poundn.    PiiundK. 


Mixed  hay 

Turnips 

Bttau  iiiwil 

Poll  in«'iil 

Wlioat  bran  . . . 
Ground  iMirlcy 


17.4!30 
l.WK) 
2.571 
1.7H<) 
2.  m:\ 
2.«7;{ 


DigeHtl-    ^K'-  DiireHti-'  Nntrl- 

♦«/i.  Ixihy-  hlo  fat.  _  .V 

*«^°-        <lrat4«.  "*♦"' 

I'liUHitH.  '  J'oundH.  Piiunrls. 


28.9B7 


l.lWt 
.200 
.fi72 
.:») 

.ail 


K.  IW) 
1.440 
1.47tt 
l.(K«( 
1.17tJ 
l.t)W 


3.015        15.279 


0.24<l  I 

.040    

.(««    

.014  ' 

.OKI     

(m  

.459  1:5.41 


IKKI-ANI). 

The  (hiirv  iiuhi.strv  is  of  ^reat  importance  in  Irehand.  Althou<j^h 
all  Irish  farmers  are  more  or  le.ss  enpi^ed  in  milk  j)ro(luction,  those 
of  tlie  south  of  Ireland  devote  practically  all  of  their  attention  to 
dairvin<ji^.  The  cows  drop  their  calves  in  the  early  sprin<r  and  are 
milked  until  late  in  the  fall,  as  long  as  the  grass  lasts,  and  are  then 
dried  off.  During  the  winter  they  are  fed  on  rather  scanty  rations, 
such  as  oat  straw,  the  run  of  a  grass  lot,  and  occasionally  some  hay. 
On  some  farms  the  cows  are  comfortably  housed  during  the  winter 
and  well  fed.  In  the  central  and  northern  districts  cows  are  given 
much  better  care  and  feed  during  the  winter,  (irass  is  the  staple 
feed  in  summer  in  all  parts  of  the  country.  In  the  i)r()vince  of 
Ulster,  esj)ecially  in  County  Down,  some  dairy  farmers  feed  a  small 
allowance  of  cotton  cake  in  addition  to  grass. 

The  following  rations  illustrate  the  methods  on  the  best  farms  in 
<-entral  and  northern  Ireland : 

Fdtm  Xo.  1. — This  farm  is  in  county  Kildare,  near  the  city  of 
Dublin,  and  the  milk  supplies  the  city  trade.     Ration:  Mixed  hay. 
10  j)ounds;    clover  hay,   10  pounds;    mangels,  ;?0  jjounds:    crushed 
oats,  3  pounds;  ground  barley.  ?i  jiounds;   linseed  cake.  "2  pounds. 
Ration  for  duirij  coirs  fed  in  Counti/  Kihtitrc.  IrrUind. 


F<H»<linir  stuff. 


Quan- 
tity. 


lattor.     ''r-lT  »x>l>v-       l.l.'fat.         'A? 


Mixedhay 10  «.710 

Clover  hay .-. '  10  H.470 

Mangels I  :«•  2.T:)0 

Crushed  t>at.< '  -i  2.ti70 

Ground  l«irley H  i.Vu'i 

Lin-^eed  cake 2  1.81t) 

2T.(W!l 


I'oiituls,     I'liintils. 
0..">1IO  4.(>0lt 


.(►'0 

.2:ti 

.  .Vt») 


;j.."kSt 

l.fi20 
1.41!t 
1.9»W 

.a'>4 
i:i.:«i 


/V,i/»h/.s-. 

0.12lt   

.170   

.(M)    

.12U    

jnf<  

.14<I       

.  KU  1 :  .■>.  4 


515 


48 


BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL   INDUSTRY. 


FarTTh  No.  2. — This  farm  is  located  in  County  Antrim,  in  the  prov- 
ince of  Ulster.  The  milk  supplies  a  city  trade.  The  herd  consists 
of  40  high-grade  Shorthorns.  Ration :  Mixed  hay,  20  pounds ; 
turnips,  30  pounds;  crushed  oats,  3  j)ounds;  corn  meal,  3  pounds; 
wheat  bran,  2  pounds,  and  cotton-seed  cake,  2  pounds. 

Ration  for  dairy  cows  fed  in  County  Antrim,  Ireland. 


Feeding  stuff . 


Mixed  hay 

Tui-nips 

Crushed  oats 

Com  meal 

Wlieat  brati 

Cotton-seed  cake 


Quan- 
tity. 


Dry 

matter. 


Pounds.    Potinds. 


IT.  420 
2.850 
2.670 
2.673 
1. 762 
1.836 


Digesti- 
ble pro- 
tein. 


Pounds. 
1.180 
.300 
.276 
.237 
.244 
.744 


29.211 


2.981 


Digesti- 
ble car- 
bohy- 
drates. 


Pounds. 

8.180 
2.160 
1.419 
2.001 
.784 
.338 


14.882 


Digesti-     Nutri- 

bllfat.  I      ti^^ 
ratio. 


Pounds.  \ 

0.240    ._ 

.060    

.126    

.129  I 

_,054    

.244    

.  853  i       1:5. 


Farm  No.  3. — This  is  a  large  farm  in  County  Down,  province  of 
Ulster.  Ration :  Clover  hay,  15  pounds;  oat  straw,  (>  pounds;  ground 
barley,  5  pounds;  Avheat  bran,  2  pounds,  and  linseed  cake,  3  pounds. 
The  grain  is  scalded  with  hot  Avater  and  fed  in  two  feeds.  The  hay 
is  given  night  and  morning  and  the  stra^v  at  noon. 

Ration  for  dairy  coirs  fed  in  County  Doicn,  Ireland. 


Feeding  stuff. 


Clover  hay 

Oat  straw 

Gi'ound  barley 
Wheat  bran . .  _ 
Linseed  cake  _ . 


Quan- 
tity. 


Pounds. 
15 
6 
5 
2 
3 


Dry 

matter. 


Pounds. 
12,705 
5. 448 
4. 4r)5 
1.762 
2.724 


Digesti- 
ble pro- 
tein. 


Pounds. 
1.020 
.072 
.4*5 
.244 
.879 


27.094 


2.&50 


Digesti- 
ble car- 
bohy- 
drates. 


Pounds. 
5.370 
2.31b 
3.280 

.784 
.981 


Digesti- 
ble fat. 


Pounds. 
0.255 
.048 
.080 
.054 
.210 


Nutri- 
tive 
ratio. 


12. 731 


.647 


1:5.35 


DAIRY    FARMING    IN    DENMARK. 

Denmark  is  preeminently  a  dairy  country  and  the  cattle  interests 
are  all  centered  on  the  production  of  milk.  More  than  a  (|uarter  of 
a  century  ago  beef  production  was  extensively  carried  on,  but  it  is 
now  a  thing  of  the  past.  Keen  competition  in  the  world's  markets, 
due  to  improved  transportation  facilities,  drove  the  Danish  farmer 
out  of  the  beef  business  and  caused  him  to  devote  his  attention  to 
dairying.  This  change  has  had  a  wonderful  influence  on  the  type  of 
cattle  bred  within  the  country.  The  two  native  breeds,  the  Red  Danish 
and  the  Jysk  (or  Jutland  breed),  both  of  which  were  formerly  used 
for  beef,  have  been  so  markedly  changed  by  a  judicious  system  of 
breeding,  feeding,  and  sek^ction  that  they  now  rank  among  the  fore- 
most breeds  of  dairy  cattle.     The  aim  and  purpose  of  the  farmers  in 


CATTLE,  SHEEP,  AND    HOG    FEEDING    IN    El'ROPE.  49 

all  parts  of  Deniuark  is  to  kocp  tiu'  greatest  miinU'r  of  hi/;h-class 
dairy  cows  possible  on  a  «;iv('n  ai'ca  of  ffromul.  When  \\v  take  into 
consideration  tiie  li^iit  nature  of  the  soil,  its  northern  hn-ation,  and 
the  more  limited  scope  of  vegetation,  we  must  admit  that  the  farmers 
of  I)<'nmark,  its  a  whole,  have  advance<l  and  develo|)ed  dairy  farming 
in  a  measure  that  is  certaiidy  not  eijualed  or  even  appi'oached  in'  that 
of  any  other  country.  At  the  present  time  the  average  Danish 
farmer  maintains  ahout  one  cow  for  every  two  and  a  third  acres  of 
land  in  his  farm,  and  in  addition  <;rows  enough  youn<r  cattle  to 
replace  any  cows  which  are  discarded  from  time  to  time  on  accoimt  of 
a<^e  or  accident.  All  calves,  exeept  those  from  the  In'st  cows  and 
intendetl  for  breeding  purposes,  are  sold  for  veal  when  but  a  few 
weeks  old. 

It  is  the  j)revailinjr  custom  to  stable  the  cows  about  eijfht  months 
out  of  each  year  and  <;reen  forage  is  fed  during  the  i-emaining  four 
months.  Although  about  one-seventh  of  each  farm  is  devotecl  to 
grass,  cattle  are  seldom  allowed  free  access  to  it.  In  some  instances 
this  grass  is  cut  and  fed  to  the  cows  in  stables  or  o{)en  paddocks.  Tlie 
most  prevalent  practice,  however,  is  to  tether  them  in  rows  and 
allow  them  a  new  feeding  ground  each  day.  This  allows  each  strip 
of  land  several  days'  rest,  and  much  more  feed  is  obtained  from  a 
given  area  of  ground  than  would  otherwise  be  possible. 

The  cows  receive  green  forage  or  concentrated  feed,  or  i)()th.  The 
grass  lot  is  also  useful  to  afford  a  means  of  supi)lying  exeivist>  and 
fresh  air,  and  some  farmers,  who  do  not  set  aside  land  for  grazing, 
have  open  paddocks  adjoining  the  stables,  where  the  cows  spend 
several  hours  each  day. 

.V  great  deal  of  attention  is  given  to  the  study  of  feeding,  and 
very  accurate  records  ai"e  kept  of  the  amount  of  feed  consumed  and 
the  milk  and  butter  fat  i)roduced.  By  means  of  these  records  the 
inferior  cows  can  be  weeded  out  of  a  herd  and  the  avei-age  yield 
increased.  To  aid  the  small  farmers  in  this  work  the  Royal  Danish 
Society  has  established  a  system  of  "  Kontrol  "  societies  all  over  the 
country.  The  system  is  as  follows:  The  farmers  of  a  district  form 
a  cooperative  society  for  the  purpose  of  securing  a  "  Kontiol  " 
inspector  from  the  Koyal  Danish  Society  to  take  charge.  Before 
such  an  inspector  will  be  appointed  there  nnist  be  al)<)ut  l.OOO  cows 
represented  by  the  local  membership.  To  defray  j)art  of  the  exix'nses 
of  the  work  each  member  is  assessed  a  small  amount,  which  varies  in 
dirt'erent  societies  from  "J()  cents  to  r)8  cents  ])er  cow.  according  to  the 
number  of  cows  and  the  character  of  the  work  to  be  done.  The 
'•  Kontrol  ""  inspector  makes  an  inspection  of  each  farm  about  once 
everv  eighteen  days,  and  keei)s  a  set  of  books  with  eacli  farm  in 
duplicate,  one  set  being  retained  by  the  farmer.     Among  other  things. 


50  BUREAU  OF  ANIMAL  INDUSTRY. 

he  records  the  total  amount  of  milk  produced  by  each  cow  since  his 
last  visit  (the  milk  being  regularly  weighed  and  entered  in  a  special 
book  by  the  fanner)  ;  the  percentage  of  fat  contained  in  the  daily 
samples  of  the  milk;  a  calculation  of  the  butter  produced;  the 
ainount  of  feed  eaten  per  cow ;  the  amount  of  butter  produced  in 
relation  to  the  amount  of  feed  consumed ;  the  total  amount  of  milk 
per  cow  per  annum,  its  cost,  and  the  net  profit  per  cow.  He  advises 
concerning  the  selection  of  bulls  for  the  different  cows,  the  kinds  of 
crops  to  grow,  and  any  changes  which  Avould  l>e  beneficial  in  the 
rations,  and  recommends  the  disposal  of  all  cows  which  have  not 
i-eturned  a  profit  on  the  feed  consumed.  This  system  has  done  a 
<^reat  deal  of  good  and  its  cost  is  very  small.  With  some  societies 
(he  average  annual  yield  of  milk  per  cow  has  increased  1,000  pounds 
in  less  than  four  years  from  the  time  they  were  first  started.  This 
increase  has  been  due  largely  to  better  methods  of  feeding  and  more 
careful  selection  of  the  cows  in  the  herd. 

The  Danish  farmers  fully  appreciate  the  advantages  of  this  sys- 
tem and  hope  for  still  greater  improvements.  P^very  precaution  is 
taken  which  will  in  any  way  have  a  favorable  influence  on  the  yield 
of  milk.  The  stables  are  well  ventilated,  so  that  their  winter  tem- 
perature is  about  00°  F.  On  many  farms  the  cows  are  groomed  twice 
or  three  times  weekly. 

UREEDIXG    CATTLE. 

Under  this  head  only  the  methods  of  feeding  young  cattle  and 
breeding  bulls  will  be  considered.  All  breeding  coavs  are  ke))t  for 
milk  production  and  are  fed  for  that  purpose:  methods  of  feeding 
them  will  be  discussed  in  that  connection. 

Much  care  is  given  to  the  feeding  of  breeding  bulls,  and  the  Danish 
farmers  aim  to  retain  all  sires  which  get  good  stock  until  they  are 
10  or  1*2  years  of  age  or  as  long  as  they  prove  sure  stock  getters. 
Under  the  Danish  system  a  bull  is  not  eligible  to  registration  until  he 
is  at  least  3  years  old  and  has  proved  himself  a  useful  sire.  These 
people  have  many  sensible  ideas  regarding  the  management  of  their 
animals.  A  bull  is  not  purchased  or  rejected  on  liis  general  appear- 
ance, but  the  ({uality  and  productive  powers  of  his  stock  determine 
his  value  in  the  market. 

The  grain  part  of  the  ration  is  usually  crushed  oats  and  bran  or 
ground  barley  and  bran.  Bulls  are  not  fed  cotton-seed,  sunflower, 
or  rape-seed  cake,  but  linseed  cake  is  sometimes  used.  Eoots  are 
given  during  the  fall  and  winter  months. 

THE    FEEDING    OF    DAIRY    COWS. 

Th(^  feeding  of  dairy  cows  is  a  vital  question  in  Denmark.  Every- 
tliing  grown  on  the  farm  is  utilized  to  the  very  best  advantage  pos- 
sible and  is  supplemented  by  a  large  amount  of  imported  concentrated 
feed. 


CATTLE,  SHEEP,  AND    H(K;    FKEDIXG    IN    EUROPE.  51 

A  variety  of  soiling  (;i()|)s  is  ffrowii  on  each  farm.  The  first  in 
season  is  winter  rve.  whicli  is  ready  for  cutting  in  May.  Next  foUow 
the  (•h)veis,  (hen  the  varions  cereal  cr<)|)s,  sticli  as  oats  and  harley 
and  other  mixtures.  \'etches.  jwas.  and  other  forms  of  h'^uminous 
( i-o|)s  are  also  <j:ro\vn  to  some  extent  and  are  very  hi<rhly  prize*!.  These 
cro|)s  ai«'  allowed  to  reach  a  fair  dej^ree  of  maturity  before  Immtij^  used. 
Root  crops,  especially  niaiifjels  and  l)eets,  are  very  generally  grown. 

When  cows  ar«'  t»'thered  during  the  summer  th<»y  are  fed  mod<'ra<4» 
<pianti(ies  of  green  forage  or  concentrated  feed,  or  both,  in  addition  to 
grass. 

The  following  rations  are  i-epresentative  of  feed  during  the  summer 
season : 

Fann  X<>.  1. — This  is  a  rather  large  farm  near  Hregentved.  The 
cows  are  tethered  for  several  hours  each  day  on  a  grass  lot.  Th<; 
grain  ration  consists  of  ;i  to  (>  pounds  i)er  cow  per  day  of  a  mixture 
of  '1  parts  cotton  cake,  1  pait  ground  barley,  and  1  j)ait  wheat  bran. 
The  eailiest  green  feed  is  winter  rye.  Later  on  clover  is  used,  fol- 
lowed by  a  mixture  of  oats,  barley,  and  vetches  sown  at  different 
intervals. 

In  the  early  fall  roots  are  used.  The  amount  of  fodder  fed  varies 
from  'M)  to  ()0  pounds  per  day,  according  to  the  condition  of  the  grass 
lots. 

Farm  Xo.  2. — This  is  a  small-sized  farm  located  in  the  vicinity  of 
Ilorsens.  The  cows  are  grazed  on  a  grass  lot  for  several  hours  each 
day  snid  confined  to  the  stables  or  yards  the  remainder  of  the  tijue. 
The  soiling  croj)s  are  winter  rye.  clover,  mixed  grasses,  oats  and  bar- 
ley, vetches  and  roots.  The  forage  is  fed  in  the  morning  and  after 
milking  in  the  evening.  In  addition,  from  "J  to  4  pounds  of  cotton 
cake  are  fed  each  cow  daily. 

Fiinii  Xo.  ■). — This  farm  is  located  near  Kolding,  in  the  south  of 
Jutland,  and  consists  of  some  is  acres.  By  using  rather  lai-ge 
amounts  of  concentrated  feed  the  owner  is  able  to  keej^  10  cows.  No 
land  is  set  aside  for  grazing,  the  cows  IxMUg  stabhMJ.  with  the  excep- 
tion of  a  few  hours  daily  in  an  o])en  paddock  for  exercise.  For 
soiling  winter  rye.  clover,  mixed  grass  and  clover.  i)eas.  oat--:  and 
barley,  and  roots  are  used.  The  concentrated  feed  is  comjjo^ed  of 
cotton  cake  '1  parts,  dried  l)rewers'  grains  '1  parts,  and  ground  l)arley 
1  part,  and  from  5  to  7  i)ounds  is  fe«l  daily  in  two  ecjual  feeds,  moi-n- 
ing  and  evening. 

During  the  winter  cows  are  confined  practically  all  of  the  time  in 
warm  stables,  and  ai'e  usually  fed  three  times  daily.     As  a  rule,  all 
grain  is  crushed  or  ground.  l)ut  little  labor  is  expended  on  the  prep 
aration  of  feed. 

The  following  rations  illustrate  the  general  methods  of  winter 
feed  in  jr. 


52 


BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL   INDUSTRY. 


Farm  Xo.  1. — This  is  a  very  large  farm,  near  Bregentved,  where 
between  180  and  200  cows  are  milked.  During  the  winter  the  cows 
are  confined  to  the  stalls  most  of  the  time,  and  a  supply  of  fresh  water 
is  always  before  them.  The  roughage  is  clover  or  mixed  hay,  oat  or 
barley  straw,  the  combination  in  most  general  use  being  1-2  pounds 
clover  hay  and  <S  pounds  of  oat  straw.  The  hay  is  fed  morning  and 
night  and  the  straw  at  noon.  About  20  pounds  of  mangels  are  fed 
each  morning  and  evening.  The  grain  ration  is  crushed  oats  2 
pounds,  ground  barley  2  pounds,  cotton-seed  cake  2  pounds,  and  bean 
meal  2  pounds,  fed  in  two  equal  feeds,  morning  and  evening. 


nation  for  dairy  coiri<  fed  near  lireuentved.  Denmark. 


Feedin?  stuff. 


Clover  hay 

Oat  straw 

Mangels 

Crushed  oats 

Barley  meal 

Cotton-seed  cake 
Bean  meal 


Quan- 
tity. 


Dry       Si?^ri    wlcar-'  !  Digesti-     Nutri- 
matter.    ^^^^PT^      bohy-      bllfat.       ^'^^ 
^®^°-        drates. 


Poundx. 
12 
8 

40 
2 
2 
2 
2 


Pounds. 
10.164 
7. 2li4 
3.ft40 
1.7H) 
1. 782 

i.ase 

1.714 


Pi>u)ids.    Pounds. 
0.816  4.296 


.096 
.440 
.184 
.174 
.744 
.448 


3.088  I 

2.160  I 

.946  1 

1.312  I 

.338  I 

.986  ! 


28.180 


2.902         13.126 


ratio. 


Pounds. 

0.204    

.f)fU    

.040    

.084    

.032   

.244    

.024 

.692  1 :  5.  Ot5 


Farm  Xo.  2. — This  is  a  large  farm  near  Hasler,  and  the  owner 
maintains  about  100  cows.  Complete  records  are  kept  of  all  the 
feed  consumed  and  milk  j)roduced.  The  -stables  are  very  Avarm. 
but  the  cows  are  out  a  few  hours  each  fine  day  in  an  open  court. 
About  14  pounds  of  mixed  hay,  about  0  pounds  of  barley  straw,  and 
30  pounds  of  mangels  per  cow  per  day  are  fed.  The  grain  ration 
consists  of  ground  barley  3  pounds,  cotton-seed  cake  3  pounds,  and 
wheat  bran  2  pounds.  The  hay  is  fed  morning  and  night,  the  straw 
at  noon,  the  roots  in  two  feeds — late  morning  and  about  5  o'clock  in 
the  afternoon — and  the  grain  in  two  equal  feeds,  morning  and  night. 


liaiiou  for  dairy  coirs  fed  near  Hasler.  Denmark 

Digesti 


Feeding  stuff. 


Quan- 
tity. 


matter,    ^^^f  PJO" 


I  Pounds. 

Mixed  hay i  14 

Barley  straw 6 

G- round  harley -  3 

Cotton-seed  cake 3 

Wheat  bran  - 2 

Mangels  .  _ _ 30 


Pounds. 
12. 194 
5.148 
2. 673 
2. 7.54 
1.762 
2. 7:^) 

27.261 


Pounds. 

0.826 
.042 
.2fil 

1.116 
.244 
. :« ) 


Digesti- 
ble car-    Digesti- 
bohy-       ble  fat. 
drates. 


Nutri- 
tive 
ratio. 


Pounds.  '  Pounds. 


5. 726 
2.472 

1.9(58 
.5<I7 
.784 

1.620 


2. 819         13. 077 


0.168 

.«»    

.(HS  ' 

.336  : 

.ft54  I 

.«»  ' 

.672  1:5.18 


CATTLE,  SHEEP,  AND    HOG    FEEDING    IX    KTROPE.  53 

F(ir/n  XtK  .). — This  is  a  incdiiiiu-sized  farm  in  ihv  vicinity  of 
Roskildc,  and  is  considered  to  be  fairly  re|)resentative  of  the  average; 
faiin  of  Denniai'k.  Tlie  ration  consisted  of  nnxed  hay  15  j)oiinds, 
oat  sti-a\v  (■»  j)ounds,  njan«!:els  ;U)  j)()un<ls,  and  a  <rrain  mixture  of 
<rnshe(l  oats  '1  pounds,  ground  harh'V  2  i)()Mnds.  (hied  brewers'  j;rains 
•J  pounds,  and  rai)e-se(Ml  meal  '1  pounds. 

nation  for  iluiru  coirs  fril  near  h'oshihir.  Dciinuirk. 


F«>t'(liinf  stuff. 


guun-  Dry        ^So     ^^^^^^^'    '^'*^-''-     ^iv''- 

tity.        .natter.     »'>«/;«;"      ^Ijohy-       b!e  fat.       ^Vio. 


I'oiinil.i.  I'lninds.     I'oititilx.     I'oiiidIs.  I'dhhiIm. 

Mix(>(\  hay l.'>  i:J.i»iri  (i.XK-)  «.  i:r>  0.  IH) 

Oat  straw (>  r..44«  .irTa  2.:{1B  .(M« 

Mangels »)  ^.TS)  M-*)  l.rta)  .•»» 

Crushed  <)!it.s.. 2  l.TW)  .  1S4  .<««  .(Kl 

GrmimUMirley 2  1.7«2  .174  1.312  MH 

Dried  brcwors^rniins '  2'  l.K*  I  .314  .728  .118 

Rape-seed  meal I  2  \.m)  \  .5(»4  .474  .l.VI 


13.529  .62B         l:H.(»i 


Farm  Xo.  4- — This  is  a  small  farm  near  Lyngby,  where  the  owner 
keeps  fourteen  cows  on  30  acres.  The  stables  are  warm  and  well 
ventihited:  water  is  constantly  in  front  of  the  cows.  Kation:  Clover 
hay,  14  pounds:  oat  straw,  (*>  pounds;  ground  i)arlev.  3  |)ounds: 
sunflower-seed  cake.  3  pounds;  wheat  bran.  2  pounds;  carrots.  30 
j)ounds. 

Ration  for  dairij  coirs  fed  near  Ljimjt)!!.  Ihnniark. 


Fee.lin.  stuff.  !    V|-n-      ^^^^^    ,^  .uej-ar-     ur.^u-      __,^, 


Di^esti-    ^l^f.^^:    T^i„_»,-.     Xutri- 

bf)hy- 
driites. 


PoiokIx.  r<>,i,i)ls.     Potdidn.     I'ninidx.     rounds. 

Olover  hay 14  ll..«.>  0.'.»5-.>  .■..01:.'  O.XIM 

Oat  straw (>  .">.  44,><  .(I7:,'  :.>.3]ti  .ii4x 

Ground  barley    3  2.t;73  .2<;i  l.iHiS  .(«.>< 

Sunflower-seed  rake 3  2.7.')4  .'XM'i  ..">s.><  .:V4 

Wheat  bran 2  1.7ti2  .244  .7S4  MM 

Carrots :«)  3.42lt  .24<)  2.:H>)  .(160 


27. (Mo  2.7(k-.         13.  mis  .Sii         1  :  .">.  49 


AVhile  in  the  city  of  (\)penhagen  the  writer  inspected  the  methods 
of  the  Coi)enhagen  Milk  Supply  Comi)aiiy.  which  is  owned  and 
ojH'i'ated  by  j^eople  of  the  city,  who  contrac-t  with  farmers.  Thi- 
organization  has  exacting  regulations.  Xo  fanner  funii.--hing  milk 
to  it  is  allowed  to  feed  brewers"  grains  or  any  di>tillery  refuse.  Tie 
must  not  feed  turnips,  turnip  leaves,  nor  more  than  'M)  pound--  per 
cow  per  day  of  eithei*  carrots  or  mangles.  Furthermore,  no  cake, 
except  rape-seed  cake,  can  be  used,  and  the  use  of  that  is  limited  tc 
li  pounds  per  cow  ])er  day.  and  may  be  fed  only  when  at  lea>t  ."» 
pounds  of  a  mixture  of  oats,  barley,  and  bran  are  fed  with  it.     Stable 


54 


BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 


feeding  of  cows  in  tlie  summer  is  not  permitted  under  any  circum- 
stances. They  nuist  be  fed  in  the  open  air,  in  yards,  or  pastured  in 
a  grass  lot.  The  feeding  of  vetches  is  also  forbidden.  In  addition 
to  the  general  trade,  there  is  a  special  demand  for  milk  for  infants. 
P'or  this  purpose  the  milk  from  certain  farms  only  is  used.  All  the 
restrictions  which  apph'  to  the  general  trade  are  enforced  on  these 
farms,  and  in  addition  the  following  must  be  strictly  observed : 
Except  of  carrots  limited  to  15  pounds  per  cow  })er  day,  no  roots  can 
be  fed  and  no  cake  can  be  used  under  any  circumstances.  These 
restrictions  increase  the  cost  of  production,  but  this  is  counterbal- 
anced by  the  additional  compensation,  as  the  prices  are  very  much  in 
advance  of  those  obtained  for  ordinary  milk. 

In  addition  to  this  company,  a  similar  organization  has  been 
recently  established  by  cow  owners  for  the  same  purpose.  On  some 
of  the  farms  which  were  supplying  the  general  trade  the  cows,  instead 
of  being  grazed  all  the  time  during  the  summer  season,  were  fed  par- 
tially on  soiling  crops.  These  crops  Avere  fed  in  open  feed  lots  and 
not  in  the  stables.  On  one  farm,  which  was  supplying  milk  for 
infants,  the  cows  were  grazed  all  the  time  and  milked  in  the  pasture 
lot.  In  addition  to  the  grass  the^'  received  about  4  pounds  per  cow 
per  day  of  a  mixture  of  equal  parts  of  crushed  oats  and  wheat  bran. 

The  following  winter  ration  is  used  on  a  farm  supplying  the  gen- 
eral milk  trade:  Mixed  hay,  15  pounds;  oat  straw.  5  pounds:  man- 
gels, ;]0  pounds;  crushed  oats,  2  pounds;  ground  barley,  2  pounds; 
wheat  bran,  2  pounds;  rape-seed  cake,  14  pounds.  The  hay  is  fed 
in  two  feeds,  morning  and  night,  the  straw  at  noon,  the  mangels  in 
two  feeds,  after  milking  in  the  morning  and  before  milking  in  the 
evening,  and  the  grain  in  two  feeds,  at  milking  time,  morning  and 
evening. 

Ration  for  dairy  coics  supplijiiif/  the  Copenhagen  milk  trade.  Denmark. 


Feeding  stuff. 


Quan-    I      Dry 
tity.     I  matter. 


Digesti- 
ble pro- 
tein. 


Digesti-  !  XT   «■  • 

ble  car-  i  Digesti- 1  ^5" '" 

bohy-    I  ble  fat.  I  J.'Xf 

drates.  '  '  '^^^"■ 


Mixed  hay 

Oat  straw 

Crushed  oats... 
Ground  barley 

WTieat  bran 

Rape-seed  cake 
Mangels 


Puunds. 
15 
5 
2 
2 
2 


PuiDHh.  i  Pouud.i. 


13.0ti5 
4.540 
l.iW 
1.7S2 
1.762 
l.m) 
2. 7*1 


0.885 
.060 
.184 
.174 
.244 
.878 
.SJO 


Pounds. 

6.i:« 

1.930 
.946 

1.312 
.784 
.356 

1.620 


27.009 


2.255         13.0S3 


Pounds. 

0.180 

.040    

.084    

.032  ' 

.054    .- 

.113    _-. 

.030 

.533  1:6.34 


On  a  farm  where  milk  is  produced  for  infants  the  following  winter 
ration  is  in  use:  Clover  hay,  IG  pounds;  oat  straw,  G  pounds;  crushed 
oats,  3  pounds;  ground  barley,  2  pounds:  wheat  bran,  5  pounds;  car- 
rots,  15  pounds.     The  feed   is  fed  in  the  stable,  but  the  cows  are 


CATTLE,  SHEEP,  AND    HOG   FEEDING   IN    EUROPE. 


55 


turned  out  in  an  oikmi  lot   for  a   few  hours  each  day,  weather  per- 
mitting, 

UutUni  for  dairy  coirs  xupplyiiifj  milk:  for  infantx,  Ih-ninark. 


FeediiiK  stuff. 


)uan- 

lity. 


Clover  hay 

Oat  straw 

(*ruslu'<l  rmt.s  ^ 
<->rc)iiii(l  barl»>y 
Whoat  bran.. . 
Carrots 


DlKf^Hti- 


Dry 


Dl(re8ti- 

ble  car-    DitfoMti- 
bohy-      1)1..  fut 
draten. 


Nutri- 

tivfi 

ratio. 


Pound*.    PouiuU.    PoutuU.    Pounds.  PoitniU. 

1«  13.552  I  l.OHH  5.72K  0.^72 

«  5.44«  '  .(►72  I  2.:n«  .<H8 

3  2.870  '  .27«  I  1.41tt  .128 

2  j        1.7«2  j  .174  1.312  .((12 

5,  4.405  1  .810  I. mi  .y.fi 

15  1.710  .120  I  1.170  .UK) 


29.567 


2.340  I      13.«05 


.643 


1:6.57 


FKKDINC    MKTIIODS    IN    HOLLAND. 

Dairying  is  the  most  important  branch  of  farming  in  Holland. 
The  entire  country  is  densely  stocked  with  the  native  black-and-white 
cattle  which  in  America  are  desi<rnated  as  the  Holstein-Friesian  l)reed. 
It  is  a  strictly  <jrazin<jf  country  and  has  many  natural  adyanta«;es  for 
live-stock  j)roduction.  The  rich  soil  and  moist  climate  insure  an 
abundance  of  fjrass  and  a  i)lentiful  hay  crop,  Koot  crops  also  do 
unusually  well.  Of  the  cereals  oats  ai'e  the  most  commonly  grown, 
but  wheat  and  barley  are  both  grown  in  considerable  quantities. 

ItKEKDIXO    (ATTLK. 

The  Dutch  system  of  feeding  and  rearing  cattle  is  simplicity  itself. 
The  calves  are  given  whole  milk  until  about  5  weeks  old,  when  the 
ration  is  gradually  changed  to  skim  milk  and  grain.  The  grain  is 
cooked  or  steamed  and  fed  with  the  milk  at  first,  l)ut  when  th(>  calves 
are  old  enough  the  grain  is  fed  dry  immediately  after  giving  the 
milk.  When  grass  is  availal)le.  it  constitutes  the  entire  ration  for 
heifers,  and  during  the  winter  the  rations  are  only  suflicient  to  ke^p 
them  growing  nicely. 

Bulls  are  fed  in  the  same  manner  until  they  are  a  year  old.  after 
which  they  are  rather  closely  confined.  Hulls  used  for  l)reeding  are 
kej^t  in  stables  or  paddocks.  They  are  well  fed.  but  ai"e  not  allowed 
to  become  fat.  Ivoots  in  winter  and  green  forage  in  summer  are 
largely  used.     Kegular  exercise  is  given. 

KKKI)IN(;    D.MHV     COWS. 

On  the  majority  of  the  farms  during  summer  the  cows  gather  all 
their  feed  from  the  grass  lots,  although  additional  feed  may  be  sup- 
plied when  the  grass  supply  runs  short.  Bran,  cake,  and  oats  are  all 
used  to  some  extent  for  this  purpose,  but  the  i)rin("ii)al  feed  i-:  the 
refuse  from  the  gin  distilleries,  fed  in  open  tubs  in  the  grass  lots. 


56 


BUREAU   OF    ANIMAL   INDUSTRY. 


This  resembles  brewers'  frrains  and  is  relished  by  the  animals.  The 
amount  fed  i)er  day  varies  from  l\0  to  70  pounds  ])er  cow,  according 
to  the  condition  of  the  grass. 

In  w'inter  they  use  various  kinds  of  home-grown  roughage,  roots, 
and  a  considerable  amount  of  concentrated  feed.  Large  quantities 
of  hay  and  straw  are  used.     The  following  rations  are  representative: 

Farm  Xo.  1. — This  farm  is  located  in  the  western  part  of  Holland, 
near  Alkmaar.  and  is  considered  to  be  one  of  the  best  in  that  locality. 
A  large  herd  of  very  heavy-milking  cows  are  maintained.  The  win- 
ter ration  is  clover  hay,  20  pounds;  oat  straw,  (5  pounds:  mangels,  50 
pounds;  crushed  oats,  3  pounds:  corn,  .3  pounds:  wheat  bran,  -2 
pounds:  linseed  cake,  2  pounds.  The  hay  is  fed  in  two  feeds,  morn- 
ing and  night,  the  straw  at  noon,  the  mangels  in  two  equal  feeds, 
after  milking  morning  and  night,  the  grain  at  milking  times. 

Ration  for  dairi/  coirs  fed  in  verier n  Holland. 


Feeding  stuff. 


Quan-    '      Dry       D^^^f^-    blf ^r-'    Digest!-     Nutri- 
tity.     :  matter.    ^%f^-      ^bohy-      hie  fat.  j     ^^^ 


Clover  hay  .  _ . 

Oat  straw 

Mangels 

Crushed  oats. 

Corn  meal 

Wheat  bran.. 
Linseed  cake. 


Pounds. 

Poi(jid.s. 

Pounds. 

Pounds. 

Pounds. 

20 

16.940 
5.448 

1.360 
.072 

7.160 
2.316 

(1.340 
.048 

6 

50 

4.550 

.550 

2.700 

.050 

3 

2.670 

.276 

1.419 

.126 

3 

2. 673 

.2:^7 

2.001 

.129 

2 

1.762 

.244 

.784 

.054 

2 

1.816 

..586 

.654 

.140 

:i5.859 

3.325 

17.034 

.887 

1:5.72 

Farm  Xo.  2. — This  farm  is  located  in  the  northern  part  of  Hol- 
land, near  the  town  of  Helcler.  The  farm  is  not  large,  but  is  heavily 
stocked.  The  winter  ration  for  cows  in  full  milk  is  as  follows: 
^lixed  hay,  25  pounds;  mangels,  40  pounds;  crushed  oats,  3  pounds; 
<hied  brewers'  grains,  5  pounds:  linseed  cake,  2  pounds.  The  hay  is 
fed  in  three  feeds,  morning,  noon,  and  night :  the  roots  in  two  feeds, 
after  milking  in  the  morning  and  about  5  o'clock  in  the  evening,  and 
the  errain  in  two  feeds,  at  milking  time  morning  and  evening. 


Ration  for  dair;/  coirs  fed  in  northern  Holland. 


Feeding  stuff. 


Mixed  hay 

Mange  Ls 

CriLshed  oats 

Dried  brewers"  grains 
Linseed  cake 


Quan- 
tity. 


'  T)i?esti-    Digestl-  i 
^'•>'        blenro-  I  ^^®  ^■»^-    Digesti- 
matter.    "VJ^  t)ohv-      ble  fat. 

^^^^-     I  drates.  i 


Pininds.    Piinnds.     Pounds.     Pounds.    Pou)ids. 


21.775 
3.640 
2. 670 
4.5i10 
1.816 

Si.  491 


1.475 
.44<t 
.  276 

.785 
.586 


10.225 

2. 160 

1.419 

1.815 

.&->t 


Nutri- 
tive 


3.5(i2         16.273 


O.aK) 

.010  ' 

.126    

.255    

.140 

.8«)1  1:.5. 11 


CATTLE,  SHEEP,  AND    IKK}    FEEDING    IN    EUROPE. 


57 


Farm  No.  J. — This  farm  is  located  at  Delft,  near  The  Ha<riie,  in 
southwest  Ilolhiiid.  The  owiiei'  maintains  a  herd  of  ,">()  cows  to  sup- 
ply the  city  milk  trade.  His  winter  rations  are  as  follows:  Clover 
iiay,  1.")  pounds;  nii\e<l  hay,  7  pounds;  wet  distillery  ijrains,  40 
pounds;  corn  meal,  '.\  pounds;  wheat  hran,  ^i  pounds;  lins«*e(l  cake.  -J 
pounds.  The  nii.xed  hay  is  fed  in  the  morning  and  the  clov<'r  hay 
noon  and  ni«j:ht.  The  distillery  grains  are  fed  after  milking  inornin<>: 
and  evening,  and  the  <ri'i«in  ration  at  milkin<j:  time  moi'nin^  and  eve- 
ning. The  cows  ^ave  a  Iar<re  flow  of  milk  hut  were  in  thin  flesh  at 
the  time  of  the  writer's  visit. 

Ifdtidii  for  (Idirii  coirx  fcil  in  Hoiillnrcstirii  lloUumJ. 


FewiinK  Mtuff. 


Quail-         Dry 
tity.     ,  matter. 


Digt'sti- 
blf  pro- 
tein. 


Di)<<'Hti- 

hlo  car-  DiK'-Hti- 
Ixjhy-  l)le  fat. 
drates. 


Nut  in- 
tivf 
ratio. 


Clovor  liay 

Pounds. 
15 

7 

H) 
3 
3 
2 

Puundn. 
12.7(6 
f..097 
».72<) 
2.  (i73 

l.KKi 

Pounds. 

1.02() 

.413 

]. .-,(!() 

.2:^7 
.:«»> 

..")8«1 

/'oil  nds. 

.").  :rr(t 

2.  )>fi\ 
3.7211 

1.17ti 
.(554 

I'onnilx. 

Mixed  hay 

.(IK4 

.  .'i»l(»      . 
.129      . 
I»<1 

Corn  meal _ 

Wheat  bran.     .                 .  . 

Linscfd  cake _ 

.140    .. 

1.249 

:i->.(5r)4 

4.1H2 

15.  -H\ 

1:4.45 

COXDITIONS    IX    TIIK    CII.XNNKr,    lSI,.\Nns. 
.Tkksky. 

That  dairy  farmin*;  can  be  conducted  on  very  valual)le  land  is 
amply  illustrated  on  the  island  of  Jersey.  With  land  for  a<rricul- 
tural  puri)oses  rentin<r  for  from  $40  to  $S0  j)er  acre  the  people  of  this 
little  island  have  been  compelled  to  a(lo|)t  a  very  intensified  system  of 
farming.  The  farms  are  small  and  the  most  important  cro|)  is  early 
{)otat()es.  which  are  grown  for  export.  The  live-stock  interests  are  of 
but  secondary  importance.  Were  it  not  for  the  fact  that  animals  are 
needed  to  aid  in  the  fertilization  of  the  soil  and  that  they  are  very 
largely  maintained  on  roots  and  soiling  cr()|)s  which  are  grown  on  the 
ground  after  the  jxjtatoes  are  harvested,  it  is  moi-e  than  likely  that  no 
live  stock,  except  those  needed  for  la'oor.  would  l)e  maintained.  Beef 
animals  are  not  produced  at  all;  sheep  do  not  numl)er  "200  head 
altogether;  horses  are  bred  in  very  small  numbers,  the  greatest  poi-tion 
of  those  required  for  labor  l)eing  imi)orted:  and  hogs  are  to  be  found 
on  few  farms.  The  Jerst'V  cattle  })i-edominate  almost  to  the  exclu- 
sion of  all  others,  yet  they  are  not  kept  in  sulliciiMit  iiumbei-s  to  supply 
the  (U'lnands  of  the  people  for  milk  and  butter.  Hutter  is  im])ortetl 
at  all  seasons  of  the  year,  and  es])ecially  during  the  wintt'i-  months, 
ill  former  yeai-s.  when  it  was  the  i)revairnig  custom  to  have  the  cow- 
calve  in  the  spring  of  the  year,  suflicient  Imtter  wa>  i)roduc('d  to  ^iij)- 
l)ly  the  demand  dui-iiig  the  summer,  but  during  the  winter  ther*'  wa- 


58  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL   INDUSTRY. 

a  great  shortage,  which  was  always  supplied  by  other  countries.  At 
])ro  ent,  with  the  cows  calving  at  all  seasons  of  the  year,  there  is 
enough  home-made  butter  to  meet  the  demands  of  the  higher  classes 
of  people,  but  the  lower  classes  are  compelled  to  use  foreign  butter 
throughout  the  entire  year. 

FEEUINO   IIREE1)IN(!    ANIMALS. 

Care  is  used  to  avoid  overfeeding  of  young  animals.  The  amouiit 
of  concentrated  feed  is  limited,  and  much  dependence  is  placed  on 
roughage  in  winter,  grass  constituting  the  sole  summer  ration. 
Calves  are  usually  on  a  ration  of  whole  milk  for  the  first  three  weeks 
of  life,  after  which  time  it  is  gradually  replaced  by  skim  milk,  and 
bome  farmers  raise  their  calves  on  grass  and  skim  milk.  Others, 
however,  give  grain  as  well.  Good  results  are  reported  from  the  use 
of  rice  at  this  time,  some  farmers  feeding  nothing  but  boiled-rice 
gruel.  The  best  feeders  boil  1  quart  of  rice  in  2  gallons  of  water, 
Avliich  furnishes  enough  to  add  to  the  skim  milk  for  two  feeds  for  four 
calves  of  about  4  months  old.  If  the  rice  has  not  been  previously 
soaked,  it  is  boiled  ten  hours,  but  if  soaked  for  twelve  hours  it  can  be 
boiled  sufficiently  in  one  and  a  half  hours.  This  is  a  cheap  food  and 
costs  about  li  cents  per  pound. 

Both  bulls  and  heifers  are  fed  in  much  the  same  way  until  15  or 
18  months  of  age,  when  the  bulls  are  used  for  service  and  the  heifers 
are  bred.  From  this  time  on  the  heifers  are  more  liberally  fed,  espe- 
cially during  the  last  three  months  of  the  gestation  period. 

As  the  majority  of  the  farms  are  very  small,  and  but  few  cows  are 
kept  on  each  farm,  individual  farmers  do  not  keep  bulls  exclusively 
for  their  oAvn  use.  The  bulls  as  a  rule  are  owned  and  maintained  by 
a  few  of  the  larger  farmers,  who  receive  Government  premiums  for 
each  bull  of  merit,  provided  that  the  services  of  such  a  sire  can  be 
had  by  the  smaller  farmers  at  a  certain  fee,  Avhich  is  always  very 
reasonable.  The  subsidizing  system  has  been  adopted  to  raise  the 
standard  of  the  cattle  on  the  island  and  has  given  very  satisfactory 
results.  On  several  of  the  farms  visited  two  or  three  breeding  bulls 
were  seen.  They  are  all  maintained  in  very  thin  flesh.  During  the 
v.inter  they  are  fed  hay,  roots  (turnips,  carrots,  and  mangels), 
and  from  2  to  4  i)ouiids  of  bran  each  per  day.  In  the  summer  they 
are  tethered  on  grass  lots  or  soiled,  with  the  same  allowance  of  wheat 
bran.  In  some  instances  young  bulls  are  given  a  small  allowance  of 
linseed  cake,  about  1|  pounds  per  day,  in  addition  to  the  bran  ration. 

KKEDING    DAIKY    COWS. 

The  Jersey  cow  in  her  native  land  is  not  so  liberally  fed  as  in  other 
countries.     In  some  instances  the  cows  are  wintered  on  the  grass  lot 


CATTLE,  SHEEP,  AND    HOG    FEEDING    IN    El'KOPE.  50 

with  sonic  stniw  uiul  a  few  roots  in  addition  only.  l)Mt  ^fonerally  IIm'V 
rweivo  Ix'tter  caro.  Koiijrhafje  is  fed  in  liniitod  (jinintitics,  and  a 
j^ivat  deal  of  dependence  is  placed  on  the  root  crops  to  furnisli  tlw 
hidk  of  tlie  winter  rations.  This  is  a  cheap  source  of  feed  hecanse 
they  are  <^rown  as  a  second  crop  on  the  potato  land.  Turnips,  swe«ie-;, 
carrots,  and  mangels  are  all  <j^rown.  On  some  farms  cal)l)a«r<'s  are 
<^*own  for  winter  fei'dinj;.  They  are  not  so  likely  to  impart  an 
undesirable  flavor  to  the  milk  as  turnips,  and  are  ^rowinp  in  puhlic 
favor,  drain  and  cake  are  fed  in  very  small  quantities.  The 
majority  of  farmers  use  from  '2  to  5  pounds  per  cow  per  day,  and  it 
is  said  that  only  one  farmer  on  the  island  feeds  as  nnich  as  10  pounds 
to  cows  in  full  milk.  During;  the  summer  no  «rrain  is  fed  as  a  i-ide. 
Great  care  is  <riven  cows  at  calvin*(  time;  warm  hran  nuishes  are 
usually  fed  at  this  time.  Bran  mashes  are  frequently  fed  throughout 
the  entire  ])eri()d  of  lactation,  and  on  all  farms  the  cows  are  grazed 
from  four  to  seven  hours  each  day  throughout  the  winter.  The  free- 
dom of  the  cattle  from  tuberculosis  is  emphatic  evidence  of  the  wis- 
dom of  this  method  of  management. 

The  following  rations  are  repivsentative  of  those  fed  on  the  best 
farms,  but  must  bo  considered  as  above  the  general  average: 

Farm  Xo.  1. — This  is  a  rather  large  farm  in  the  i)arish  of  St. 
Saviours,  where  a  good  herd  of  milch  cows  are  maintained  from  which 
many  valuable  animals  have  been  exi)orte(l  to  America.  During  tlu' 
summer  months  the  cows  are  tethered  on  a  grass  lot  and  receive  no 
additional  feed.  During  the  fall,  winter,  and  early  sj)ring  months 
they  are  fed  on  hay,  oat  straw,  loots.  compound  cake,  wheat  bran, 
and  are  on  grass  for  six  hours  each  day.  They  are  fed  seven  time>  a 
day — at  5  a.  m.,  ;U  i)oun(ls  of  hay  ;  7  a.  m.,  80  jxjunds  of  roots;  II  a.  m.. 
2  pounds  compoiuid  cake  and  bran;  fi"om  10  a.  m.  to  4  p.  m.  on  grass: 
4.30  p.  m.,  »H  pounds  hay;  a.^iO  p.  m.,  30  pounds  roots;  (>.30  p.  m.,  '1 
jK>unds  compound  cake  and  bran,  and  at  S  p.  m.  5  pounds  of  oat 
straw. 

Ration  for  <hiinj  roirs  fed  iti  Sf.  Sarioitrx,  ishiiid  of  ./rr.sr;/. 

„,.,«,  I    Quan-         Drv        Pi'^'T.?'      bliMar-    Diposti-      ^"l'"' 

FetHliMK  stuflf.  ^tit         !  matter.     '''U,       I    »^'J'V     .l.lefat.       „Vt?" 


Mixed  hay 

Turnips 

Straw,  oat 

Wheat  bran 

Compound  cake 


I'iniiiits. 

P 

oil  lids. 

P<- 

iiinils.  ' 

/■ 

1 

outiih. 

Pi.inKls. 

- 

5.  TOO 
4.540 
1 .  TfC 

0.413 

.OfiO  1 
..44  ! 

■J.XfU 

4.:«i 
l.!»:«i 

.7S4 

0. 0K4     . . . 

a) 

.131      .. 

.040 

.>  1 

.(f.l 

2 

].»hi 

..>4o  ; 

.til" 

.17(1    .. 

19. 915 

1.H5: 

10.507 

.Wf< 

1  :  11.  *{ 

m 


BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL   INDUSTRY. 


Fai^n  No.  2. — This  farm  is  located  near  St.  Helier,  and  has  one  of 
the  hirgest  herds  on  the  ishuid.  The  methods  of  feeding  are  said  to 
be  much  above  the  average.  The  summer  rations  consist  of  good 
grass  and  2  pounds  of  cotton  cake  per  cow  per  day.  During  the 
winter  all  feed  is  carefully  prepared,  the  hay  and  straw  being  cut, 
the  roots  pulped,  and  th  ?  bran  steamed.  The  feed  is  mixed  together 
and  allowed  to  stand  for  several  hours  lK»fore  being  fed.  At  5  a.  m. 
the  cows  are  fed  a  mixture  of  cut  hay.  bran,  and  cotton  cake,  or 
gluten  feed  (the  latter  feed  is  liked  very  well,  but  can  not  be  fed  to 
advantage  with  large  quantities  of  roots  on  account  of  its  laxative 
nature)  ;  at  7.30  a.  m.,  cut  hay,  cut  straw,  pulped  roots,  with  some 
In-an  or  crushed  oats;  at  noon,  another  feed  of  the  same  mixture; 
from  1  p.  m.  until  5  p.  m.  they  are  tethered  on  a  grass  lot.  and 
when  brought  into  the  stables  are  given  a  feed  of  the  same  mixture 
as  at  5  a.  m. ;  the  last  feed  of  the  day  is  given  at  7  p.  m.,  and  is  the 
same  as  that  given  at  7  a.  m.  and  noon. 

Ration  for  lUiiry  roirx  fed  near  St.  Hrlicr,  island  of  Jersey. 


Feeding  stuff. 


Mixed  hay 

Git  straw  . . . 

Carrots 

Wheat  bran . 
Crushed  oats 
Cotton  cake . 


Quan-         Dry        D%^«:    hUtl'r-     Digesti-      Nu^^i" 
tity.     ;  matter.     '*V;Pf*'       bohv-      ble  fat.       JV^? 
!  ^^^^-        drates. 


Pounds.  Pounds.  Pounds.    Pounds.    Pounds. 

«  I  6.968  0.472  j        3.272  j        0.096 

4  3.632  '  .04*i  ' 

40  I  4.560  \  .320 

2!  1.762  I  .244 

2i  1.780  .184 

2  '  1.936  '  .744 


1..544 

3.120 

.784 

.»46 

.:«6 


.032 
.080 
.054 
.084 
.244 


20.638 


2.012  I   10.002 


.590 


1:5.63 


Farm  No.  3. — This  farm  is  located  near  Granville,  and  the  owner 
is  generally  recognized  as  being  the  best  feeder  on  the  island.  The 
herd  numbers  about  one  dozen  cows,  many  of  them  with  records  of 
17  pounds  or  more  of  butter  in  seven  days.  The  summer  ration  con- 
sists of  3  pounds  of  cotton  cake  and  good  pasture  grass  for  cows  in 
full  milk. 

The  winter  ration  consists  of  mixed  hay,  oat  straw,  roots  (carrots 
until  February  and  mangels  during  the  remainder  of  the  time),  cab 
bages,  compound  cake,  and  wheat  bran.  At  5  a.  m.,  4  pounds  of 
hay;  7.30  a.  in.,  'l'^^  pounds  carrots;  9  a.  m.,  20  pounds  cabbages;  9.30 
a.  111.,  4  pounds  cake  and  bran;  from  10  a.  m.  until  4  p.  m..  on  pasture; 
at  4  J),  m.,  4  pounds  of  hay;  5  p.  m..  25  ])ounds  carrots;  (3  p.  m.,  4 
l)ounds  cake  and  bran ;  8  p.  m.,  5  pounds  of  oat  straw. 


CATTLE,  SHEEP,  AND    HOG    FEEDING    IN    EUROPE. 


61 


Uitlhiu   far  diiiri/  coirs  fed  iirar  (lnitirHU\  ixhiinl  of  ,/riHri/. 


F<'t'<lintf  stuflP. 


Ouan-         Dry       J^^V!;^!:    bl^^r  I  DiK.«ti      ^uiri- 
lity.        mHtJ,r.    ^''X*"  '    ^h^    I  W«  fat.       ^,\- 


Mixcil  hay 

Oat  straw 

("arrotH 

('Ul>hiiK*'8 

ComiKMUul  (uike. 
Wlu'Ht  hnm    


J'oitiidH.     I'onndn.     I'ihiiiiIk.     I'nundM. 

8        n.\m        ((.472        arrra 


:> 

4.  MO 

M 

5.7(11) 

ai 

:i.(IH() 

5 

4,54<) 

3 

•iJiVi 

27.4.'il 

.(KM) 
.441) 
.:ftM) 

l.:{50 


1  »«) 

•A.m) 

l.tMO 

].m) 

I.17B 


a.im ;     13.46H 


ratio. 

I'nunfU. 

mm    

.(m  

.V»l    

.(IH(»     

.4ar.  

.OKI  ' 

.K«  I        1:5.(W 


On  several  other  fai'ins  visited  the  same  ran«re  of  feediup^  stuffs  was 
used  as  those  mentioned.  As  a  ruK'.  the  amounts  of  «;rain  and  cake 
fed  were  not  so  large,  while  in  many  instanws  the  amount  of  roots 
given  was  greater. 

GUKRNSEY. 

Although  the  island  of  (luernsey  is  located  (juite  near  the  island 
of  Jersey,  the  conditions  prevailing  are  (piite  difierent  in  many  re- 
spects. Land  rents  are  not  so  high  in  (Juernsey.  hut  from  the  stand- 
point of  live-stock  production  this  has  not  proved  to  he  an  advantage. 
The  live-stock  interests  are  conKned  almost  solely  to  the  (lUernsey 
bi'eed  of  cattle  and  are  of  secondary  importance  from  an  agricultural 
standpoint.  The  i)roduction  of  tomatoes,  grapes,  and  hulhs.  undei* 
glass,  occupies  the  first  attention  of  the  j)eoi)Ie.  and  live  stock  ai'e 
maintained  largely  because  of  their  favorable  influence  on  the  fer- 
tility of  the  land.  Like  the  farmers  of  Jers<>y.  the  bi-eeders  of  (luern- 
sey  do  not  give  their  cattle  as  good  care  and  feed  as  those  in  coun- 
tries where  the  production  of  daii'y  and  meat  products  is  moi-e  im- 
l)ortant.  However,  the  methods  of  feeding  are  very  good  on  nuiny 
farms.  A  system  of  feeding  which  has  a  slight  tendency  to  produce 
flesh  is  ai)preciated  i-ather  than  othei-wise.  With  this  exception, 
however,  the  methods  of  feeding  are  very  nnich  the  >nu\v  as  in  the 
island  of  .Jersey. 

(Jrass.  soiling  croi)s.  and  roots  supj^ly  the  succulent  feed.  Man- 
gels, turnips,  and  carrots  are  the  conunon  roots.  l)ut  par>nips  are  also 
fed  and  are  |)articularly  valuable  as  they  do  not  taint  the  milk. 
The  amount  of  roujrham'  used  is  lar<rei-  than  in  Jersev. 


I'KKDINCi    liRKKDINC    STOCK. 


Calves  are  generally  fed  more  liberally  than  in  Jersey.  They  are 
usually  fed  some  grain  and  roots  after  the  whole  milk  is  discon- 
tinued.    Bulls  and  lieifer  calves  are  feil  alike. 


62 


BUKEAU   OF   ANIMAL   INDUSTRY. 


Mature  bulls  are  not  maintained  in  high  flesh,  some  breeders  be- 
lieving that  high  feeding  tends  to  make  a  bull  vicious.  During  the 
summer  mild-tempered  bulls  are  tethered  on  grass,  but  vicious  ones 
are  confined  to  the  stables.  Additional  feed  may  be  given  the  bulls 
on  grass.  During  the  winter  one  good  breeder  feeds  his  mature  bulls 
on  10  pounds  of  mixed  hay,  5  pounds  of  oat  straw,  60  pounds  of  roots, 
and  3  pounds  of  wheat  bran. 

FEEDING  DAIRY  COWS. 

The  methods  of  feeding  the  milch  cows  are  very  much  the  same  as 
tho.se  prevailing  in  Jersey,  the  chief  difference  being  the  larger  use 
of  hay  and  turnips  in  winter,  the  use  of  parsnips,  and  the  greater 
attention  given  to  the  use  of  soiling  crops  for  spring  and  early  sum- 
mer feeding.     Methods  of  management  are  also  very  similar. 

The  following  are  representative  winter  rations,  but  on  many  of 
the  smaller  farms  more  roots  and  less  grain  and  cake  are  given : 

Farm  No.  1. — This  is  a  medium-sized  farm  near  St.  Martins  on 
which  about  a  dozen  high-class  cows  are  maintained.  During  the 
spring  and  summer  the  cows  are  tethered  on  grass  and  on  such  crops 
as  oats  and  vetches.  In  addition  they  receive  about  2  pounds  of  cot- 
ton-seed cake  and  2  pounds  of  bran  each  per  day.  During  the  winter 
they  are  fed  15  pounds  of  mixed  hay,  50  pounds  of  roots  (parsnips 
and  mangels),  and  about  8  pounds  of  bran  per  cow  per  day  in  addi- 
tion to  pasture. 

nation  for  dairy  cotes  fed  near  »S7.  Martins,  island  of  G.iiernsei/. 


Feeding:  stuff. 

Quan- 
tity. 

^^'^^ 

Digesti- 
ble car-    Digesti- 
bohy-       ble  fat. 
drates. 

Nutri- 
tive 
ratio. 

Pounds. 
15 
50 

8 

Pounds. 
13.065 
5.850 
7.048 

Pounds. 

0.885 

.800 

.976 

Pounds. 
6.135 
5.600 
3.136 

Pounds. 

0.180 

.100 

.216 

Wheat  bran 

25.963 

2.661 

14. 871 

.496 

1  :6.01 

Farm  No.  2. — This  is  a  large  farm  located  near  Catel,  on  which 
about  GO  cows  are  maintained,  including  many  of  the  most  famous 
show-yard  and  butter-test  winners  at  the  leading  island  and  English 
shows. 

During  the  summer  the  cows  receive  about  2  pounds  of  bran  and  1 
pound  of  cake  each,  in  addition  to  grass,  those  being  fitted  for  exhibi- 
tion receiving  more,  in  some  instances  as  high  as  3  pounds  of  cake 
and  5  pounds  of  warm  bran  mash.  The  winter  rations  consist  of 
about  14  ])ounds  of  mixed  hay,  3  pounds  of  oat  straw,  3  pounds  of 
cotton-seed  cake,  5  pounds  of  bran  in  the  form  of  a  warm  mash, 


(  ATTLE,  SHEEP,  AND    HOG    FEEDING    IN    EUROPE. 


68 


and  50  poniuls  of  carrots  or  mangels  per  cow  per  day,  in  addition 
liavin*;  scvcrnl  hours  each  fine  day  on  a  p-ass  lot.  At  the  time  of  the 
Avriter's  visit  the  cows  were  in  good  condition  and  ^'iving  very  satis- 
factory returns, 

liatlfiu  for  ihiirif  coich  fed  near  Catel,  inland  of  (iueniHry. 


Feeding  stuff. 


)aan- 

tity. 


Dry 

matter. 


tei^      I    '^'hy-      bl..fut. 


Pounds.]  I'duiuIh.    Pminds.     Puundit.     rininiln. 


Mixed  hay 

Oat  straw 

Mangels 

Cotton-seed  cake 
W'heat bran 


12. 194 
2.  724 
■J.'vJO 
2.r.>4 
4.4(15 

36.627 


0.  M2»i 
.([«l 
..V)(l 

1.116 
.610 


5. 72ti 
l.I.V 
2. 7()l) 

.nr, 

l.UHU 


3.138  I       12.(61  ! 


Nutri- 

tivo 

riitix. 


(».  l(y*    

.(tt4    .. 

(kVt    

.:»>!    

.i;«) 

-V.^  1:4.37 


DAIKV    l'KKl)IN<;    IN     FHANC  K. 

French  farmers,  especially  in  the  northern  and  central  sections,  are 
engaged  more  or  less  in  milk  production,  and  the  feeding  of  the  dairy 
cow  has  received  considerable  attention,  ^^^lile  the  chief  aim  is  to 
produce  the  largest  possil)le  flow  of  milk  from  a  given  amount  of 
feed,  in  some  districts  much  attention  is  given  to  the  effect  of  feed  on 
the  milk.  For  instance,  some  farmers  feed  cocoanut  meal  with  the 
hope  of  improving  the  flavor  and  te.xture  of  butter. 

During  summer  some  of  the  best  fanners  graze  the  cow>;  the  entire 
time,  giving  no  additional  feed  except  in  times  of  continued  dry 
weather  or  overstocking,  when  a  small  allowance  of  cotton-seed  im'al 
or  wheat  bran  may  be  given,  the  amount  varying  from  '2  to  «".  pounds 
per  cow  daily.     Some  farmers  use  green  forage  instead  of  grain. 

Where  the  land  is  very  valuable  and  fenc(>s  are  considered  wasteful, 
the  cows  are  fed  in  a  stable  and  soiled  (luring  summer  or  tethered  on 
grass. 

In  winter  the  general  tendency  is  to  feed  rather  heavily  on  rough- 
age and  si)aringly  on  concentrates.  As  a  ride  fully  two-thirds  of  the 
dry  matter  of  the  ration  is  obtained  from  the  roughage. 

The  following  are  fairly  representative  winter  rations: 

Farm  Xo.  1. — This  is  a  medium-sized  farm  in  Normandy  where 
about  W  cows  are  milked.  The  rougiiage  is  home-grown:  in  fact,  all 
of  the  ration,  with  the  exception  of  the  bran  and  Iin>eed  cake,  is  pro- 
duced on  the  farm.  Ration:  Alfalfa  hay.  -I'l  ])ound>:  ground  l)arley, 
3  pounds:  crushed  oats.  '^  pounds:  wheat  bi-an.  -J  |)onnds:  lin.-eed  cake. 
1  pound;  fodder  beets.  -JO  i)ounds.  The  hay  i>  fetl  in  three  feeds, 
morning.  no<m.  and  night:  the  grain  in  two  fet'd: — ai  inilking  time, 
morning  and  night,  and  the  beets  al)out  4  oVlock  in  the  afternoon. 
5154 — No.  77 — ri5  m 5 


64 


BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 
Ration  for  dairy  coics  fed  in  Normandy,  France. 


Feeding  stuff.  • 

Quan- 
tity. 

Dry 

matter. 

^If  «'H 

Alfalfa ^ 

Poundg. 

22 
20 
3 
3 
2 
1 

Pounds. 
20.152 
1.820 
2.673 
2.670 
1.762 
.908 

Pounds.    Pounds. 
2.420          8.712 
.220          1.080 
.281          1.968 
.276;        1.419 
.244  !          .784 
.293            .327 

Pounds. 

0.264    

Fodder  beets 

020 

Ground  bar  lev  

048 

Crushed  oats  

.126 

Wheat  bran 

.054 

Linseed  cake 

.070 

29.985 

3.714  !      14.290 

1 

.  582  j      1 :  4. 19 

Farm  No.  2. — This  is  a  rather  small  dairy  farm  located  in  French 
Flanders,  a  noted  dairy  district.  Although  the  farm  contains  but 
80  acres,  the  owner  maintains  a  herd  of  30  milch  cows  in  addition  to 
young  cattle  and  other  classes  of  stock.  Ration:  Clover  hay,  12 
pounds:  oat  straw,  G  pounds;  dried  brewers'  grains,  C  pounds; 
crushed  oats,  3  pounds;  wheat  bran,  2  pounds;  cotton-seed  cake,  2 
pounds.  The  hay  and  straw  are  chaffed.  In  the  evening  the  hay, 
straw,  and  grain  to  be  used  the  following  day  are  mixed  together  and 
moistened.  The  mixture  is  allowed  to  stand  overnight,  and  before 
feeding  the  next  day  is  scalded  with  boiling  water.  It  is  fed  in 
three  feeds,  the  largest  amount  being  given  at  night.  HoAvever,  the 
preparation  of  the  feed  involves  a  great  deal  of  labor,  and  the  owner 
frankly  admits  that  he  would  abandon  steaming  at  least  if  he  had 
succulent  feed. 


Ration  for  dairy  coirs  fed  in  French  Flanders. 


Feeding  stuff. 


Clover  hay 

Oatstaw 

Dried  brewers'  grains 

Crushed  oats 

Wheat  bran 

Cotton-seed  cake 


Diffpsti  Digesti- 

Quan-         Dry       mI^^o  ^^^  ^^^'-    Digesti- 

tity.       matter.    "i„P  ""  bohy-      ble  fat. 

^®™-  drates. 


Pounds. 
12 


Pounds. 
10.164 
5.448 
5.508 
2.670 
1.762 
1.836 

27.388 


Pounds. 
0.816 
.072 
.942 
.276 
.244 
.744 


Pounds. 
4.296 
2. 31ti 
2.178 
1.419 
.784 
.338 


Pounds. 
0.204 
.048 
.306 
.126 
.054 
.244 


Nutri 

tive 

ratio. 


3.094         11.. 3:^1 


.982 


Farm  Xo.  3. — This  is  a  medium-sized  dairy  farm,  located  in  south- 
ern Brittany  and  stocked  with  an  excellent  herd  of  the  small  black- 
and-white  Brittany  cows.  The  milk  is  sold  to  supply  a  city  milk 
trade,  and  a  uniform  flow  throughout  the  winter  is  desirable. 

The  following  ration  is  fed:  Alfalfa,  15  pounds:  mixed  hay,  5 
pounds;  corn  meal,  3  pounds;   crushed  oats,  3  pounds;   wheat  bran, 


CATTLE,  SHEEP,  AND    lUKi    FKEDINO    IN    EUROPE. 


i\r) 


2  pounds;  aixi  cot  ton-seed  cako.  '2  pounds.  The  pain  is  fed  in  two 
feeds — at  milking  time  morning;  and  evening,  the  ini.xed  hay  at  lunm. 
uiu\  tlie  alfalfa  inorninjr  s>nd  ni^ht. 

liatimi  for  iltiiri/  i-uirn  fnl  in  Urilliini/.  I'muvv. 


F«MHling  Htuff . 


I    Quail - 
I     "ty. 


I'^-y   !.K.l  ^'-••'-  !>'«-''  ""t?:::'- 


drates 


Alfalfa 

Mixed  hay  

Corn  meal 

Crushod  oats 

Wheat  bran 

Cottoii-8tH>d  cake . 


Pounda. 

Pound*. 

Pwindg. 

Pound  X. 

Ptundn. 

15  i 

13. 7*) 

\.m) 

.296  ' 

r).tt4() 

2.(>4.5 

II.  IHO  {. 

6  1 

1 
.(UK)  ':.. 

3 

!!5.«78 

.237 

2.  Oil 

.129      . 

3 

2.B70 

.276 

1.41U 

.126    .. 

2 

l.TfK 

.244 

.7m 

.U->4      . 

2  1 

1.8:« 

.744 

.3:« 

.244    .. 

27.096 

3.446 

12.527 

.78:^ 

1:4.15 

HAIRY    MKITIIODS    IX    AUSTIU A-IHN(;AI{Y. 

Most  of  the  milk  used  in  Aiistria-TIunfjarv  is  i)rodu('ed  on  the  farms 
of  the  more  fertile  sections,  where  farmers  keep  hut  a  few  milch  cows 
and  do  not  follow  dairvin«r  as  a  specialty.  However,  near  lar^e 
cities  there  are  persons  who  are  enpi<rod  exclusively  in  dairy  farm- 
ing. It  is  not  common  to  graze  dairy  cows  and  the  practice  is  limited 
almost  entirely  to  the  hilly  districts,  where  small.  i)i-oductiv('  valleys 
are  surrounded  hy  highland  which  is  only  suitable  for  grazing. 
AVhen  cows  are  stabled  they  are  soiled  during  the  summer. 

Sinnnwr  rafir/ii.s.—Ou  the  majority  of  farms  the  summer  rations 
consist  of  from  50  to  SO  jiounds  of  green  fodder  per  cow  per  day.  and 
from  .")  to  10  i)()unds  each  of  grain. 

The  following  rations  will  convey  a  fairly  good  idea  of  tiic  methods 
of  summer  feeding: 

F(tnu  Xo.  1. — Alfalfa.  ()0  pounds:  corn.  '^  j)ounds:  crushed  oats, 
''\  jKiunds:   wheat  bran.  '1  pounds. 

F(irni  Xo.  J. — (ireen  corn,  i\()  pounds:  gicen  clover.  '20  pounds: 
green  oats.  20  pounds;  corn  meal.  H  luiunds:  mill  feed.  2  pounds,  and 
wheat  bran.  2  pounds. 

Fanii  Xo.  J — Alfalfa.  70  pounds,  fed  in  three  feeds — two  of  -20  and 
one  of  :iO  pounds.  The  owner  had  jireviously  been  feeding  some 
grain,  but,  deciding  it  was  not  profitalile.  stopjH'd  the  grain  and 
increased  the  alfalfa.  According  to  his  statement  his  cows  give  just 
as  much  milk  on  alfalfa  alone  as  when  fed  alfalfa  and  grain,  and  the 
daily  ration  is  about  4.\  cents  per  cow  cheajier. 

}V'ud<'r  ratious. — During  the  winter  most  farmers  feed  three  times 
l)er  day.  but  there  is  a  growing  sentiment   in  favor  of  feeding  Imt 


66 


BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 


twice  per  day.     All  grain  is  crushed  or  <rronnd  before  feeding;  the 
roughage  is  usually  fed  long,  without  moistening  or  steaming. 

Fiinn  Xo.  1. — Alfalfa  hay,  '10  pounds;  corn  fodder,  10  pounds; 
corn  meal,  3  pounds;  crushed  oats,  8  ])ounds,  and  wheat  bran,  1 
})ound.  The  alfalfa  is  fed  morning  and  evening,  about  8  or  l^ 
pounds,  respectively,  the  corn  fodder  at  noon,  and  the  concentrated 
feed  in  two  equal  feeds,  morning  and  evening.  In  this  instance  all 
of  the  feed,  with  the  exception  of  the  wheat  bran,  is  home-grown 
and  the  ration  is  not  considered  expensive. 


nation  fur  <lairy  roirs  fed  in  Aiifttria-Hnnf/ary  (farm  No.  1). 


Beedingi  stuflf . 

Quan- 
tity. 

Dry 
matter. 

Digesti 

ble  pro- 

tem. 

Digesti- 
ble car- 
bohy- 
drates. 

Digesti- 
ble fat. 

Nutri- 
tive 
ratio. 

Alfalfa  hay 

Pounds. 
20 

10 
3 
3 

1 

Pounds. 
18.32 
5.78 
2.673 
2.670 

PoiUidH. 

2.2 
.25 
.237 
.276 
.122 

Pounds. 
7.92 
3.46 

2.(m 

1.419 

.:?J2 

Pounds. 
0.24 
.12 
.129 
.126 
.027 

Corn  fodder _ _  _ 

Corn  meal 

Crushed  oats 

Wheat  bran 

30.324 

3.085 

15. 192 

.642 

1:5.3.^ 

Nearly  four-fifths  of  the  dry  matter  and  protein  in  this  ration  is 
obtained  from  the  roughage.  It  has  many  features  Avhich  should 
commend  it  to  American  farmers,  particularly  in  the  alfalfa-grow- 
ing districts. 

Faiin  No.  2. — This  is  a  rather  small  farm  near  a  large  city,  where 
the  OAvner  aims  to  keep  one  cow  for  each  acre  of  land.  Clover  hay 
If)  pounds,  oat  straw  T  pounds,  crushed  oats  8  pounds,  wheat  ])ran 
?i  pounds,  and  linseed  cake  '2  pounds  constitute  the  ration.  The 
clover  hay  is  fed  in  equal  feeds,  morning  and  evening,  the  oat  straw 
at  noon,  and  the  concentrated  feed  in  equal  feeds  morning  and  night. 
This  ration  gives  very  good  results.  It  dilt'ers  from  the  foregoing 
one  in  that  the  two  principal  sources  of  protein,  wheat  bran  and  oil 
cake,  are  purchased. 

Ration  for  (hiiri/  coirs  fed  in  Aufitria-Hungarn  (farm  \o.  2). 


Feeding  stufT. 


Clover  hay  . . 
Oat  straw  .  - . 
Crushed  (jats 
Wheat  Vn-an. 
Lin.secd  cake 


Quan- 
tity. 


in^ter.    ^l?lPr< 


^^^^'^^- 


Digesti- 
bohy-  ble  fat. 
drates. 


Nutri- 
tive 
ratio. 


Pounds,  i  Poioirf.s'.    Pounds.    Pounds.  \  Pounds 


13.552 
6. 356 
2.670 
2.643 
1.816 

27.  (Cn 


1.088 

5.728 

.084 

2.702 

.276 

1.419 

.366 

1.176 

.58«? 

.654 

11.679 


0.272 
.056 
.126 
.081 
.140 

.675 


CATTLK,  SHKKP,   AND    IKXi    FKKI)IN(J    IN     Kl'KOPK. 


67 


Farm  Xo.  J. — Alfalfa  hay.  10  pounds:  clover  hay.  8  |K)un(ls;  corn 
fotklcr.  10  |)<)un<ls:  crushed  oats.  .'5  pounds;  and  corn  in<'al.  .'}  jM)Mnds, 
The  clover  hay  is  fed  in  the  nioinin|ir.  the  corn  fodder  at  noon,  and  the 
alfalfa  hay  at  ni^ht.  The  grain  is  fed  in  one  feed  about  5  o'clock  in 
the  evening;. 

liutUnt  for  (lalrif  coirs  jcd  in  A  UHtria-II unitary  (farm  \o.  3). 


Fi'cdinjf  Ktuff. 


Quan- 
tity. 


Dry 
matter. 


Di»?«>Hti- 


^'1"J"-'-      lx>hy-       blefat.  I      ^'-X« 


t-efii. 


drateH. 


ratio. 


I'lfunilH.    Pouttdn.    PiiunilH. 


A 1  fill  fa  hay... 

('l(>v»«r   

("urn  f(Hld<>r . 
( "<  >rn  iiK'iil .    . . 
C'rusht'd  oat.s. 


9.16 
«.77« 


2T.<W» 


l.H) 
..>44 


1(1 

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t.ffTA 

.217 

A 

2.  B70 

.27« 

•z.itrt 


PtlHwlH. 

/•< 

»i<  nit». 
0.12 

.i:«  . 

.12      . 
.12»    . 
.12«5    . 

2.  WW 

:i.-W( 

2.(11)1 
1.41H 

W.7(M 

.«« 

1:(J.28 

DAlUVlNf;    IN    <;khmanv. 

Dairying  is  easily  the  most  important  branch  of  the  cattle  industry 
in  Germany,  especially  in  the  northern  and  western  portions,  where 
the  influence  of  the  Danish  and  Dutch  farmers  has  been  felt.  Tlie 
milk  produced  supplies  creameries  and  cheese  factories,  condensed- 
milk  factories,  and  the  city  milk  trade,  and  a  large  amount  of  butter 
and  cheese  is  made  on  the  farms  where  the  cows  are  kept.  Some 
farms  are  rather  heavily  stocked,  but  usually  only  a  small  number  of 
cows  are  kept  on  each  farm.  Practical  men  appear  to  give  little 
thought  to  the  i)rei)aration  of  rations  or  methods  of  feeding.  With 
the  exception  of  linseed  and  cotton-seed  cake.  i)ractically  all  of  the 
feed  used  is  home  grown  or  the  bv-j)roducts  of  home  manufactures, 
such  as  sugar  production  and  brewing. 

Fdi'ni  Xo.  1. — This  farm  is  located  in  the  northern  part  of  Germany. 
Summer  ration:  (ireiMi  clover,  in  season,  TO  pounds:  dried  brewers' 
grains.  5  pounds,  and  linseed  cake.  "2  pounds."  At  other  times 
from  t)0  to  SO  pounds  of  a  mi.xture  of  oats  and  barley  or  peas,  oats, 
and  barley,  with  the  same  grain  allowance,  are  fed.  During  the  early 
fall  about  HO  pounds  of  sugar  beets  per  cow  daily  are  fed  instead  of 
part  of  the  forage. 

The  winter  ration  is  composed  of  clover  hay,  20  pounds;  oat  hay. 
S  pounds:  corn  meal.  3  pounds:  dried  brewer^'  grain.s.  3  pounds, 
and  linseed  cake,  2  pounds.  The  clover  hay  i>  fed  in  two  feeds, 
morning  and  night:  the  oats  hay,  which  is  made  l)y  cutting  oats 
about  ten  days  before  being  ripe,  is  fed  at  noon.  The  gi"ain  is  fed  in 
two  equal  feeds — morning  and  night. 


"  On  some  farms  cottou-sinHl  rake  is  f»Hl  in  summer  instead  <>f  linsttNl  cake 


68 


BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL   INDUSTRY. 
Ration  for  dairy  cotes  fed  in  northern  Germany. 


Feeding  stiiflf . 


Ottan- 

tity. 


Clover  hay 

Oat  hay 

Corn  meal 

Dried  brewers'  grains . 
Linseed  cake 


Pounds. 


^       Kro'    W^^^: :  Dig«8ti-     Nntri- 
matter.    HlPT''"      bohy-      blefat.  '     *""* 


drates. 


Pounds. 
16.940 
7.288 
2.673 
2.754 
1.816 


Pounds.  I 
1.360 
.344 
.237 
.471 
.586 


Pounds. 
7.160 
3.712 
2.001 
1.089 
.654 


31.471 


2.998  :      14.616 


tive 
ratio. 


Pounds. 

0.340 

.120  I 

.129    

.1.53   

.140   

.882  1       1:5.54 


Fann  No.  2. — This  farm  is  located  near  the  city  of  Munich,  and 
the  owner  uses  large  quantities  of  wet  brewers'  grains.  Summer 
ration :  At  the  time  of  the  writer's  visit  the  farmer  was  feeding  40 
pounds  of  green  alfalfa  and  about  (50  pounds  of  wet  brewers'  grains 
per  cow  daily.  The  brewers'  grains  were  fed  early  in  the  morning 
and  about  5  o'clock  in  the  evening.  The  mangers  were  cleaned  out 
before  each  feeding  time,  to  remove  anything  which  might  have  been 
left  over  from  the  previous  feed. 

The  cows  were  rather  thin  and  their  bowels  very  loose,  but  aside 
from  this  they  showed  every  indication  of  thrift  and  health. 

The  winter  ration  on  this  farm  is  simple.  It  is  composed  of  alfalfa 
hay.  16  pounds:  wet  brewers'  grains,  40  pounds,  and  corn  meal.  3 
pounds.  The  alfalfa  is  fed  in  two  equal  feeds,  immediately  after 
milking  morning  and  evening,  the  brewers'  grains  in  two  feeds, 
early  in  the  morning  and  about  5  o'clock  in  the  evening,  and  the  corn 
meal  at  midday. 

Ration  for  dair}/  coir.*<  fed  near  Munich,  Germany. 


Feeding  stuff. 


Quan- 
tity. 


Digesti- 
mattV'^leP-- 


Dry 


Digesti- 
ble car-  !  Digesti- 
bohy-       ble  fat. 
di*ates. 


Nutri- 
tive 
ratio. 


Pounds.    Pnund.i.    Pounds.    Pomids.    Pouiids 


Alfalfa  hay _ . . 

Wet  V)revrers"  gi-aius. 
Corn  meal 


9.720 
2.673 


1.760 

1.560 

.237 


6.im 
3.720 
2.001 


0.192 
..560 
.129 


27.019 


3.557 


12. 05 


.881 


1:3.95 


Farm  Xo.  S. — This  farm  is  located  near  Berlin  and  the  milk  is 
sold  to  supply  the  city  trade.  The  cows  are  stabled  throughout  the 
entire  year  and  allowed  out  of  doors  only  for  a  few  hours  each  day 
in  an  open  yard.  At  the  time  of  the  writer's  visit,  during  the  latter 
part  of  July,  the  ration  was  composed  of  alfalfa  about  30  jxiunds, 
green  peas,  oats,  and  barley  about  40  pounds,  and  a  grain  mixture 


CATTLK,  SHEEP,  AND    H()(J    FEEI)IN(i    IN     Kl'HOPK. 


r)9 


of  2  i)<)iiii(ls  wheat  bran.  '2  pounds  coi-ii  mk'mI,  and  '2  jxiiinds  cotton- 
seed cake. 

Beinf;  near  a  sw^ar  factory,  the  owner  us<'s  a  ^reat  deal  of  heet  |)uli) 
(hirin<r  tlie  early  winter.  The  following  ration  has  Ix'en  use<l  with 
satisfactory  lesults:  lieet  pulp,  HO  pounds;  alfalfa  hay,  10  poiuids: 
cloy«'r  hay.  .">  pounds;  corn  meal,  .'}  pounds;  wheat  hran.  '2  pounds; 
and  cotton-s<»ed  cake,  2  pounds.  The  In'et  pulp  \vas  fed  in  two  feeds, 
in  the  early  niorninj;  and  before  inilkin*;  in  the  eveninf(,  the  ^rain 
about  10  o'clock,  the  cloyei"  hay  at  1  o'clock,  and  the  alfalfa  hay 
after  niilkin<r. 

h'dtion   for  iliiii'i/  (1)Uh  fed   near  Hcrlin.   (iiriniiiii/. 


Fot'tliiijr  Htuff. 


Beet  pulp 

Alfalfa 

Clover  hay 

Corn  meal 

Wheat  bran 

Cotton-siHjd  cakt' 


Quan- 
tity. 


Pounds. 

1(1 

5 

2 
2 


Dry    ^^^t'^^'^^'  ^^^^^-^    ""^^y 

natter.     "V...J?r         In.hy-       »>!.•  fat.       }2^^ 


Pounds. 

s.ien 

9.160 

4. 2:1-) 

2.  (u-i 
1.7(i2 
l.Kif) 


Pounds. 

o.4«n 

l.ltt» 

.-sr, 

.244 
.744 


7.K2fi 


X  14."> 


(hy- 
drates. 


PoHiiflx.  I'lnmils. 

5.K4<(  

:19«I  0.1211    

1.7!tO  .(iKi    

2.001  .12J»    

.7S4  .<t'>4    

.S*<  .244    

14.713  .KH  1:5.13 


SWISS    D.MHV     .MKIIIODS. 

The  best  and  most  profitable  dairy  fa)Muin<j:  in  Switzerland  is  to  i)e 
found  in  the  more  fertile  districts  of  Zurich.  Zu<r.  Lucerne,  and 
Schwytz.  Here  the  land  is  considered  too  yaluable  for  irraziiiir.  and 
all  animals  not  in  milk  are  sent  to  the  mountains  to  irraze  durin<r  the 
sumnu'r.  The  milch  cows  are  soiled  or  ti'thered  on  <rrass  or  fora<re 
lots  during  the  summei'  and  are  maintaiiie<l  yery  simply  duriuir  the 
winter.  In  winter  hay  may  constitute  the  entire  ration,  and  it  i> 
usually  <iiyen  in  three  feeds.  Some  fee(lers  use  a  small  amount  of 
concentrated  feed  in  addition  to  the  r()uirha<re.  or  it  is  sometimes 
substituted  for  a  small  amount  of  rouirha<re. 

On  one  of  the  best  farms  yisited  the  owner  feeds  the  followin<r 
ration  durin<r  the  winter:  Morninir.  S  |)()unds  cloyer  hay:  noon.  <> 
pounds  mixed  hay:  .")  o'clock.  .'5  j)oiinds  linseed  cake,  ami  at  niirht.  14 
pounds  alfalfa. 


70 


BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 


Ratio-n  for  dainj  coirx  fexl  in  Hicitzcrland. 


Feeding  stuff. 


Clover  hay  . . 
Meadow  hay 
Alfalfa  hay.. 
Linseed  cake 


Quan- 
tity. 


Pounds. 

8 


Dry      i  Digesti- 


Pounds.  ,  Pounds. 
6.776  I  0.,t44 
5.226  i  .:i54 

12.824  [        1.54 

2.724  .879  I 


Digesti- 
ble car-    Digesti- 
bohy-    I  ble  fat. 
drates. 


Pounds. 
2.8t}4 
2.454 
5.-544 

.981 


27.550 


3.317 


11.843 


Pounds. 

0.136 

.072 

.132 

.21 

.55f) 


Nutri- 
tive 
ratio. 


1  :3.94 


On  another  farm  the  following  winter  ration  is  fed :  Morning,  8 
pounds  clover  hay ;  noon,  8  pounds  clover  hay ;  G  o'clock,  2  pounds 
peanut  meal,  and  at  night,  12  pounds  clover  hay. 

Another  ration  for-dairy  coics  fed  in  t^n-itzerland. 


Feeding  stuff. 

Quan- 
tity. 

Dry 

matter. 

Digesti- 
ble pro- 
tein. 

Digesti- 
ble car-    Digesti- 
bohy-       ble  fat. 
drates. 

Nutri- 
tive 
ratio. 

Po^lnds. 

28 

2 

Pounds. 

23.716 

1.786 

Pou7ids. 
1.904 

.858 

Pound.f.    Pounds. 

10.024          0.476 

.456            .1138 

25.  .-)02 

2.762        10.480            .614 

1  :4.2i9 

PART  II.-SHEEr. 

SHEEP  FEEDING  AND  MANAGEMENT  IN  ENGLAND. 

Sheo})  are  raised  in  all  parts  of  England  ropardloss  of  the  quality 
or  rent  of  the  land,  and  the  jjreater  part  of  the  feed  used  is  produced 
on  the  farms.  In  the  southern  and  central  parts  of  the  coinitry  nion' 
use  is  made  of  pasture  and  f<)ra»;e  crops  for  fall  and  winter  <rra/,in«^ 
than  is  ])ossihle  in  northern  Eufjland.  where  feeding  must  Im'  done 
under  cover.  In  some  j)arts  of  the  country  fora<re  crops  are  uhmI 
durin<r  the  sununer  and  fall  to  supplement  pasture,  and  cotton-seed 
and  linseed  cake  are  very  <renerally  fed  at  this  time. 

BREEI)I.N(i    SIIKKP. 
KKKDINC;    TMK    KA.M. 

The  feeding  and  nuinafrt'ment  of  the  ram  durin":  the  hreeding 
season  varies  according  to  the  time  of  the  year,  the  condition  of  the 
ram,  and  the  methods  of  handling  him  during  the  mating  season. 

Dorset  breeders  turn  the  rams  with  the  ewes  in  June:  with  other 
breeds  the  usual  season  is  from  Sei)tember  1  to  ()ctol)er  -JO.  To  ])ro- 
duce  show  lambs  some  breed  in  August,  and  some  Hampshire  and 
Suffolk  breeders  breed  all  their  ewes  during  this  month. 

The  ram  may  be  allowed  to  run  with  the  ewes  (a  quite  common 
practice)  ;  he  may  be  housed  during  tiie  day  and  allowed  to  run  with 
them  at  night,  or  the  ewes  may  be  brought  to  him  for  service.  Kams 
which  are  carrying  an  unusual  amount  of  flesh  are  always  "  condi- 
tioned *'  for  a  few  weeks  before  lu'ing  used  by  being  given  icgular 
and  abundant  exercise  and  very  light  rations.  In  addition,  the  l>esi 
breedei"s  usually  give  one  or  two  doses  of  Epsom  salts. 

Rams  which  run  with  the  ewes  usually  receive  about  1  pound  j)er 
day  of  a  mixture  of  bran  and  oats.  Eeeds  rich  in  protein  are  used, 
and  starchy  feeds  or  those  rich  in  oil  avoided,  as  they  are  inclined  to 
heat  the  system  and  j)roduce  flabby  flesh.  Kams  which  are  housed 
during  the  day  and  allowed  to  run  with  the  ewes  at  night  are  nearly 
always  fed  green  feed,  and  from  ]  to  1  pound  of  ()at>  and  bran. 
AVhen  a  ram  stands  for  service  the  best  breeders  prefer  giving 
him  the  run  of  a  grass  lot  at  night  for  exercise.     Kams  aiv  libcrallv 


72  BUREAU  OF  ANIMAL  INDUSTRY. 

fed  during  the  breeding  season,  but  are  never  kept  fat  or  in  a  soft, 
flabby  condition.  At  other  seasons  of  the  year  than  mating  time 
grass,  forage,  and  root  crops  are  used,  and  as  much  feeding  as  possi- 
ble is  done  out  of  doors;  regular  exercise  is  regarded  as  necessary. 

As  soon  as  the  l)reeding  season  is  over  the  rams  are  separated  from 
the  rest  of  the  flock  and  given  a  small  grass  lot  of  their  own.  Young 
rams,  or  mature  ones  which  have  done  a  heavy  season's  service,  are 
usually  given  from  |  to  li  pounds  of  grain  per  day,  depending  on 
age  and  condition.  As  winter  comes  on  the  rams  are  kept  on  pasture 
as  much  as  possible. 

In  the  northern  part  of  the  country  rams  are  kept  out  of  doors  a 
great  deal,  but  the  feeding  is  more  liberal.  Mangels  are  very  seldom 
fed  to  rams,  turnips  being  the  chief  source  of  succulent  feed.  Dur- 
ing spring  and  summer  rams  are  at  pasture  the  greater  portion  of 
the  time,  but  have  green  forage  as  needed  in  addition  to  grass.  Grain 
is  fed  on  some  farms  just  before  the  breeding  season. 

CONDITIONING    THE    EWES    FOR    MATING. 

A  great  deal  of  attention  is  given  to  the  proper  conditioning  of 
the  ewe  previous  to  mating  her  with  the  ram,  and  practically  all 
successful  breeders  "  flush  "  their  ewes  for  a  few  weeks  before  mating. 
This  is  done  by  increasing  the  feed.  Ewes  so  treated  will  take  the 
ram  sooner  than  others,  which  is  a  decided  advantage  on  those  farms 
where  early  lambs  are  desired,  and  the  entire  number  of  ewes  will 
come  in  heat  within  a  shorter  period,  thus  enabling  the  owner  to  have 
all  of  his  lambs  dropped  within  a  few  Aveeks'  time,  a  factor  which  is 
often  very  beneficial  when  they  are  to  be  marketed.  Furthermore, 
on  account  of  the  increase  in  vigor  and  condition  of  the  ewes,  a  larger 
percentage  of  lambs  is  obtained  and  they  are  much  stronger. 

Various  feeds  are  used,  and  for  convenience  the  discussion  is  ar- 
I'anged  according  to  breeds. 

DoRSETS. — A  successful  breeder  in  Dorset,  who  is  also  an  exhibitor 
and  exporter,  gives  his  ewes  about  ^  pound  per  head  per  day  of 
either  corn  or  beans.     They  are  mated  in  June. 

Hampshires. — A  most  successful  AViltshire  breeder  of  Hampshires 
uses  calibage.  rape,  and  a  small  allowance  of  linseed  cake  for  about 
two  weeks  previous  to  mating.  His  ewes  are  turned  with  the  ram 
about  the  Tth  of  August. 

Lekesters. — A  successful  breeder  in  Yorkshire  uses  good  pasture 
or  folds  his  ewes  on  thousand-headed  kale,  rape,  or  cabbage. 

LixcoLxs. — A  Lincolnshire  breeder  who  has  a  most  enviable  repu- 
tation as  a  breeder  of  high-class  sheep  for  show  and  export  uses 
clover  afternuith,  kale,  or  rape. 

Oxfords. — A  leadiufr  breeder  and  exhibitor  in  Oxford  grazes  his 


CATTLE,  SHEEP,  AND    HOG    FEEDING    IN    EUROPE.  78 

ewes  oil  s«'c()ii<l-(  r<»|)  cloNtT  foi-  alxjiit  two  weeks  pi-evioiis  to  turning 
them  with  the  i-aiii. 

SiiHoesiiiHKs. — One  of  the  most  successful  bree<lers  in  Shropshire 
folds  his  ewes  on  ra|>e  and  turnips. 

SiFFoi-Ks. — A  j)roininent  Suffolk  breeder  jrives  his  «>wes  the  Ix'st 
j)astures  on  the  farm  and  in  addition  folds  them  on  rajK'.  cabbage, 
kale,  nnistard.  oi-  any  other  green  feed  available. 

Wknsi.kvuai.ks. — A  successful  breeder  in  V(>rkshir«'  uses  ra|)e  or 
barley  stubl)le  which  has  been  seeded  to  <*lover. 

The  flushing  system  has  some  disadvantages.  Inducing  the  ewes 
to  take  the  ram  earlier  than  they  otherwise  would  has  a  decided 
tendency  to  make  them  return  for  a  second  or  third  service,  and  in 
some  instances  they  will  not  become  pregnant  at  all.  This  is  caused 
by  the  change  in  the  methods  of  feeding,  and  it  proved  very  trouble- 
some at  one  time,  but  has  finally  Immmi  overcome.  After  some  experi- 
menting shepherds  found  that  if  kept  on  a  rather  scanty  ration  after 
l)reeding  the  ewes  will  settle,  as  a  rule,  with  the  first  service.  The 
majority  of  breeders  smear  the  breast  of  the  ram  with  some  retentive 
<;olor  which  nuirks  each  ewe  as  soon  as  bred,  and  she  may  then  l)e 
removed  from  the  flock.  The  short  rations  are  maintained  foi-  about 
a  month.  As  a  safeguard,  all  ewes  are  returned  to  the  ram  about  the 
time  the  second  heat  is  due, 

KKKDINCi    THK    PRK(iNA.\T    K\\  K. 

The  methods  of  feeding  the  pregnant  ewe  up  to  within  about  three 
"weeks  of  lambing  show  rather  sui'prising  divei'sity.  esj)ecially  as  to 
the  use  of  roots.  Some  men  deem  it  a  most  dangei'ous  |)ractice  to 
feed  roots  to  ewes,  especially  during  the  last  three  months  of  gesta- 
tion, while  othei's  who  are  eciually  successful  even  fold  pi'egnant 
ewes  on  turnips,  the  regular  exercise  i)rol)al)ly  overcoming  the  trou- 
blesome effects  of  the  feed. 

Practically  all  breeders  graze  ewes  at  all  times  when  the  weather 
is  favorable.  Ewes  in  good  condition  seldom  get  any  grain  or  cake 
until  a  couple  of  weeks  before  lambing.  Thin  ewes  arc  generally 
separated  from  the  remainder  of  the  flock  and  given  one-half  j)ound 
of  grain  per  head  daily.  The  following  brief  outline  lionveys  u 
general  idea  of  the  management  of  the  ewes  at  this  time. 

An  unusually  successful  Dorset  breeder  allows  his  ewes  <o  run  on 
pasture  until  September,  when  they  are  folded  on  cabbage  and  fed 
plenty  of  go(Kl  clover  hay. 

A  noted  i)reeder  of  llami)shires  allows  his  ewes  the  run  of  stubble 
fields  and  grass  land  during  the  day  and  folds  them  on  tur'iii)s  at 
night.  From  the  middle  of  Noveml)er  till  the  first  of  Decembc  they 
are  out  four  or  five  hours  each  day  on  grass  and  are  folded  in  a  dry 
lot,  where  they  are  fed  clover  hay  twice  each  day. 


74  BUREAU  OF  ANIMAL  INDUSTRY. 

A  noted  breeder  of  Leicesters  simply  pastures  his  ewes.  As  winter 
comes  on  they  receive  in  addition  a  small  allowance  of  roots,  generally 
turnips,  and  a  liberal  allowance  of  cut  sheaf  oats. 

A  famous  breeder  of  Lincoln  sheep  allows  his  ewes  the  run  of  a 
grass  lot  up  to  the  first  of  December.  He  then  puts  them  on  turnips 
iHitil  about  three  weeks  before  lambing.  While  on  turnips  they  get 
cut  clover  hay,  oats,  and  linseed  cake  in  addition.  They  are  fed  what 
hay  they  Avill  eat  up  clean  and  from  one-half  to  1  pound  of  grain 
per  head  per  day. 

A  well-known  Oxford  breeder  divides  his  ewes  into  flocks  of  about 
thirty  in  each,  and  allows  them  the  run  of  the  pasture  lots  with  fre- 
quent changes.  In  open  weather  no  additional  feed  is  given.  This 
breeder  does  not  use  any  turnips  or  other  roots  until  a  few  days 
before  the  lambs  are  exj^ected. 

A  successful  breeder  of  Shropshire  sheep  allows  his  ewes  the  run 
of  a  grass  lot  and  a  liberal  allowance  of  dry  feed  in  addition.  They 
are  given  all  the  clover  hay  they  will  eat  and  about  two-thirds  of  a 
pound  per  head  daily  of  a  mixture  of  oats  and  bran.  He  is  a  strong 
advocate  of  feeding  plenty  of  dry  feed  but  no  roots  until  the  lambs 
arrive. 

A  breeder  of  Suffolks  uses  grass,  and  in  addition  folds  the  ewes  for 
a  few  hours  each  day  on  rape,  cabbage,  kale,  or  mustard  up  to  about 
the  20th  of  October.  After  that  they  are  allowed  the  run  of  stubble 
flelds  and  grass  land  during  the  day  and  are  folded  on  cabbage  at 
night;  this  is  followed  by  folding  on  white  turnij^s  and  giving  sev- 
eral hours  each  day  on  grass  and  stubble. 

FEEDING  THE  EWES  AT  LAMBING  TIME. 

The  methods  used  at  this  time  are  very  much  the  same  on  all  sheep 
farms,  whether  breeding  stock  or  market  mutton  is  the  object.  Hay 
is  usually  cut  or  chaffed.  From  8  to  18  j^ounds  of  roots  per  head  are 
given  daily.  Common  grain  rations  are :  Equal  parts  by  weight  of 
oats,  bran,  and  linseed  cake;  one  part  oats,  one  part  bran,  and  two 
parts  linseed  cake,  or  equal  parts  of  cotton  cake  and  oats.  The 
amount  fed  varies  from  one-half  pound  to  1  or  14  pounds  per  ewe  per 
day. 

FEEDING  THE   EWES   AND   LAMBS   BEFORE   WEANING. 

Ewes  suckling  lambs  have  liberal  rations  of  grain  and  cake  and 
abundant  forage  on  temporary  pasture,  so  that  as  little  risk  as  possi- 
ble is  run  by  the  lambs  contracting  parasitic  troubles.  As  is  well 
known,  one  means  to  combat  stomach  worms  is  to  keep  lambs  off  old 
pastures.  On  many  farms  the  ewes  are  divided,  those  with  twin 
lambs  being  placed  in  one  lot  and  those  with  singles  in  another,  ewes 
with  twin  lambs  being  fed  more  heavily. 


CATTLE,  SHEEP,  AND    HOG    FEEDING    IN    EUROPE.  75 

A  brief  outline  of  niethmls  of  feeding  is  p^iven  Inflow: 

A  hiccdcr  of  Dorset  slieej)  who  |)i'()(lii('es  OctoInT  Iiunl)s,  the  major- 
ity of  wliich  are  marketed  for  tlie  Christmas  trade,  feeds  as  follows: 
Ewes  with  twin  lambs  jyfet  2  pounds  per  head  per  day  and  ewes  with 
single  lambs  1  pound  of  a  mixture  of  »'<jmil  parts  by  weight  of  oats 
and  cotton  cake,  in  addition  to  grass  and  given  forage.  As  soon  as 
they  will  eat,  the  lambs  are  fed  a  mixture  of  oats,  bran,  an<l  lin.se«l 
cake,  eijuai  j)arts  by  weight,  and  are  finished  off  with  Ikmus  or  |H*as 
and  linseed  cake.  The  amount  fed  dejM'uds  on  what  the  lami)s  will 
eat.  conunencing  with  about  one-eighth  of  a  pound  j)er  lamb  j)er 
day  and  finishing  with  fi"om  three-<|uarters  pound  to  1  i)ound  or  more. 
The  finishing  feed  is  given  during  the  last  three  or  four  weeks  pre- 
vious to  marketing. 

A  l)reeder  of  Leioesters  gives  his  ewes  a  mixture  of  linseed  cake, 
cracked  i)eas.  I)ran.  and  dried  brewers'  grains.  PLwes  with  single 
lambs  get  three-fourths  pound  per  ewe  per  day  of  the  mixture,  while 
those  with  twin  lambs  get  1]  pounds  |)er  ewe  j)er  day.  All  of  his 
lambs  are  fed  a  small  allowance,  seldom  exceeding  one-half  poinid 
l)er  day,  of  a  mixture  of  ecpial  parts  linseed  cake,  cracked  corn,  and 
crushed  oats. 

A  noted  Lincoln  breeder  gives  his  ewes  no  other  feed  than  soiling 
crops  and  i)asture.  Single  Iaml)s  are  not  fed  any  concentrated  feed, 
but  all  twin  lambs  receive  a  daily  allowance  of  oats  and  linseed  cake. 

A  prominent  breeder  of  Sufi'olk  sheep  feeds  his  ewes  with  single 
lambs  three-quarters  of  a  pound  of  a  mixture  of  equal  j)arts  of  oats, 
linseed  cake,  and  bran  i)er  ewe  i)er  day.  and  his  ewes  with  twin  laml»s 
1  pound  per  ewe  per  day  of  the  same  mixture.  His  ewes  are  divided : 
those  with  single  lambs  have  no  additional  feed,  but  all  with  twins 
have  grain  feed  from  the  time  the  lambs  are  '2\  weeks  old. 

Some  breeders  of  i)urebred  sheep  divide  the  ram  and  ewe  lambs 
when  a  few  weeks  old  and  feed  lil)erally  on  grain.  On  some  farms 
all  ewe  lambs  intended  for  l)reeding  i)ur|)()ses  are  fed  very  sparingly 
on  grain,  only  oats  and  bran  being  gi\"(Mi.  esj)ecially  when  they  are  to 
be  retained  on  the  farm.  At  weaning  time  the  grain  rations  are 
withheld  from  the  (>wes.  and  they  are  i)laced  on  a  short  |)asture.  This 
is  done  for  the  twofold  ])uri)ose  of  (U'ving  off  the  milk  and  also  to 
keep  them  in  a  moderate  condition  until  it  is  time  to  j)repare  them 
for  the  nuUing  season.  They  are  taken  from  the  shoi1-gra>s  lot  and 
fed  on  such  rations  as  have  been  previously  described  for  "  condition- 
ing ""  ewes. 

KKKDINC.    TUK    I.A.MHS    AKTKR    WKAMNC. 

Lambs  are  weaned  at  the  age  of  '^  or  4  months,  and  the  greatest 
care  is  taken  to  prevent  any  setback  or  standstill  at  this  time.     The 


76  BUREAU  OF  ANIMAL,  INDUSTRY. 

geiioral  tendency  is  to  wean  as  early  as  possible,  so  that  if  the  ewes 
are  on  permanent  pastures  the  lambs  can  be  taken  away  before  jDara- 
sites  make  themselves  known.  Breeders  usually  have  some  choice 
<rreen  feed  at  this  time,  so  that  the  growth  of  the  lamr)s  will  not  be 
retarded.  When  the  weaning  season  occurs  about  the  same  time  that 
the  grain  fields  are  being  cleared  of  their  crops,  many  farmers  run 
the  lambs  on  the  stubble  fields,  with  green  feed  and  grain  in  addi- 
tion.    Frequent  changes  of  grazing  ground  are  desired. 

Although  some  men  fold  their  lambs  on  green  feed,  the  j^ractice  is 
not  a  good  one  in  the  opinion  of  the  most  successful  breeders.  This 
is  especially  true  where  they  are  folded  on  small  areas  at  a  time,  as 
they  then  do  not  get  sufficient  exercise  and  take  on  fat  too  rapidly. 
The  most  highly  commended  practice  is  to  allow  the  lambs  the  run 
of  the  stubble  fields  the  greater  portion  of  the  day,  with  but  a  few 
hours  in  the  forage  lot,  or  to  cut  a  small  amount  of  forage  from  time 
to  time  and  give  the  lambs  free  access  to  it  from  the  stubble  fields. 

One  of  the  first  things  done  at  weaning  time  is  to  divide  the  lambs 
into  two  or  three  bunches.  AVether  lambs,  or  ewe  lambs  not  fit  for 
breeding,  are  separated  and  put  in  a  bunch  by  themselves  and  given 
different  feed  from  those  intended  for  breeding  purposes.  Rams  and 
ewe  lambs  intended  for  breeding  are  separated,  the  rams  to  be  more 
liberally  fed  than  the  ewes. 

Many  breeders  sell  their  ram  lambs  in  the  fall  of  the  year,  but 
others  prefer  keeping  them  over  and  selling  them  as  yearlings. 
Those  intended  for  immediate  sale  are,  as  a  rule,  given  better  care 
and  feed  than  those  to  be  carried  over  the  winter. 

The  following  illustrates  the  methods  of  feeding  from  weaning  time 
until  the  following  spring: 

A  breeder  of  Hampshires  who  Aveans  his  lambs  about  June  1.  when 
they  are  4  months  old,  folds  his  ram  lambs  on  vetches  and  sainfoin 
each  day  during  June,  in  addition  to  giving  them  the  run  of  a  grass 
lot  which  has  not  been  previously  pastured  with  sheep,  and  a  grain 
ration  of  oats.  bran,  and  linseed  cake.  During  July  and  the  early 
j)art  of  August,  until  sale  time,  they  are  folded  on  cabbage  and  rape, 
with  about  1  pound  of  grain.  The  ewe  lambs  are  folded  on  vetches, 
cabbages,  and  rape,  with  no  grain,  unless  the  green  feed  is  scarce, 
when  one-third  or  one-half  pound  per  day  is  given.  From  September 
until  the  1st  of  May  they  are  folded  on  turnips,  swedes,  and  kale, 
with  one-half  pound  per  day  of  grain  and  straw,  chaff,  or  clover  hay. 

A  famous  breeder  of  Lincoln  sheep  advocates  liberal  feeding  and 
very  frequent  changes  of  j)asture  for  lambs  from  weaning  time  until 
the  following  spring.  He  divides  his  lambs  according  to  sex.  but 
feeds  all  alike.  The  principal  feeds  used  are  green  clover,  tares, 
lape,  and  turnips.     During  the  fall  and  winter  they  are  folded  on 


CATTLE,  SHEEP,  AND    H(MJ    FEEDING    IN    El'KOPE.  77 

turnips  and  fed  all  tlicv  will  rat  up  ch'an  of  cut  rlover  hay,  in  which 
is  mixed  ai)<)ut  one-half  poun<l  jm'P  lu'a<l  per  day  of  lins«M*d  cake. 

A  Shropshiro  hiccdcr  feeds  as  follows:  At  weanin*:  tinu*.  which 
is  about  the  1st  of  June,  when  tlie  lamlw  are  3  months  old.  they 
are  divided  into  two  Hocks,  tlu'  rams  in  one  and  the  ewes  in  the  other, 
and  aiv  <jiven  the  hest  "jreen  crops  available.  \'etches  are  preferre<l, 
then  ch)ver,  rape,  kale,  cal)l)aji:es,  early  turnii)s.  and  swe<les.  in  the 
order  named.  The  lambs  are  always  allowed  tlu-  run  of  a  new  «rrass 
lot  during  the  day  for  several  hours,  and  when  the  cro|)s  are  har- 
vested they  are  changed  to  the  stubble  fields.  When  old  mangels  are 
available  they  are  <riven  for  a  few  wet'ks.  sliced.  Some  grain  is  fed, 
about  one-eighth  of  a  j)ound  per  day  at  the  iK'ginning  and  gradually 
increased  so  that  when  the  lambs  are  0  months  old  they  are  eating 
about  one-half  pound  each  per  day.  During  the  fall  and  winter  they 
are  j)asture(l  on  turnips  and  have  the  same  grain  allowance,  with  as 
nuu'h  good  clover  hay  as  they  will  eat  at  all  times.  This  man 
always  keeps  rock  salt  in  the  troughs  and  sprinkles  al»out  one  pound 
per  day  of  common  salt  on  the  feed  of  each  75  lambs. 

A  breeder  of  Suffolk  sheep  who  weans  his  lambs  about  the  mithlle  of 
June,  when  they  are  4i  months  old.  feeds  as  follows:  The  ram  laml)S 
are  separated  from  the  ewes  and  fed  on  white  clover.  cabl)age>.  rape, 
and  kohl-ral)i.  cut  and  fed  in  troughs.  In  addition  they  have  from 
one-half  to  1  pound  each  of  grain  per  day.  the  object  being  to  push 
them  along  rapidly  so  that  they  will  be  of  a  good  size  at  sale  time,  in 
August  and  September.  The  ewe  laml)s  are  put  on  trifolium  and 
vetches,  which  are  followed  by  rape,  nnistard.  and  cabbages,  witii  the 
i"un  of  the  stubble  fielils  when  ready.  If  in  good  condition  no  grain 
allowance  is  given,  but  if  not.  about  one-third  of  a  pound  per  day  is 
fed.  During  tlu'  fall  and  winter  they  are  fed  on  white  turnips  and 
swedes,  with  about  one-half  i)()und  per  head  daily  of  grain  and  a 
liberal  allowance  of  pea  straw  or  clover  hay.  When  the  turnip  sup- 
ply is  not  sufficient,  cut  mangels  are  given  in  the  sj)ring. 

The  methods  of  feeding  practiced  on  other  farms  are  very  >imilar 
to  the  foregoing,  (ireen  feed  is  always  given  during  the  >ununer  ami 
tall  until  the  tiu-nip  crop  is  ready,  then  the  turnij)s  are  the  thief 
feed,  with  >o\Ui'  form  of  roughage,  usually  clo\-er  hay.  and  a  small 
allowance  of  grain  and  cake,  which  in  nearly  (>verv  instance  i-  a  mix- 
ture of  oats,  wheat,  bran,  and  linseed  cake. 

rATTKXINC    LAMns    I(»U    MAKKKT. 

Tn  the  feeding  and  fattening  of  lambs  for  market  rather  distinct 
methods  are  pursued.  Those  who  rear  early  lambs  aim  to  grow  them 
rajiidly.  so  that  they  will  be  ready  for  market  in  June  or  the  early 
part  of  Julv.     The  advantages  claimed  for  this  method  are  that  it 


78  BUREAU  OF  ANIMAL  INDUSTRY. 

yiokls  (luick  returns,  that  tlic  himbs  are  sold  before  parasites  become 
ti-()iil)l('S()ine,  and  that  it  gives  an  opportunity  to  purchase  a  bunch  of 
siieep  or  hinibs  for  fall  feeding,  thus  increasing  the  sheep-carrying 
capacity  of  the  farm  and  bringing  in  larger  returns.  Those  who 
prefer  late  lambs  believe  that  they  do  not  require  the  same  amount  of 
attention  as  early  lambs,  that  the  ewes  do  not  need  so  much  special 
feeding,  that  warm  sheds  are  not  a  necessity,  and  that  the  lambs  can 
utilize  the  Avaste  of  the  farm  during  the  summer  and  fall,  especially 
that  of  the  stubble  fields.  AVhere  late  lambs  are  reared  much  care 
is  necessary  during  the  summer  months,  and  old  pastures  must  not 
be  used  as  grazing  grounds,  as  in  them  parasites  are  almost  sure  to 
attack  the  flock  and  cause  serious  losses. 

In  rearing  early  lambs  the  mothers  are  very  liberally  fed  on  clover 
hay,  grain,  and  succulent  feed.  The  amount  of  roots  fed  is  surpris- 
ing, in  some  instances  as  much  as  '20  pounds  per  ewe  per  day,  but 
from  10  to  15  pounds  daily  is  considered  very  liberal  feeding.  Win- 
ter rye.  winter  barley,  and  kale  are  utilized  before  the  grass  comes. 
The  lambs  are  taught  to  eat  grain  at  a  very  early  age.  most  of  them 
eating  well  at  three  or  four  weeks.  Special  Iamb  pens,  or  feeding 
creeps,  are  provided  for  this  pur])ose.  In  some  instances  a  self- 
feeder  is  used,  but  the  majority  of  farmers  prefer  such  feed  fresh 
cAery  day.  The  amount  of  grain  fed  is  gradually  increased  until  the 
lambs  are  eating  from  three-fourths  to  1^  pounds  each  per  day,  at 
three  or  three  and  a  half  months  of  age.  This  method  of  feeding  is 
maintained  even  when  the  grass  is  abundant.  The  lambs  are  mar- 
keted when  from  3  to  4  months  old.  weighing  from  GO  to  100  pounds 
each. 

The  more  prevalent  custom  in  feeding  late  lambs  is  to  withhold 
all  grain  and  utilize  the  pastures  and  stubble  fields.  Avitli  perhaps 
some  green  crops  in  emergencies,  until  after  Aveaning  time,  which 
occurs  in  September.  At  that  time  lambs  are  generally  folded  on 
rape.  kale.  cal)bage.  or  more  often  turnips.  "While  close  folding  is 
not  deemed  advisable  in  the  case  of  lambs  intended  for  breeding,  it 
is  admirably  suited  to  fattening  j^urposes.  In  addition  to  the  suc- 
culent feed  supplied  in  the  folds,  the  lambs  are  giA-en  a  grain  alloAv- 
ance  of  from  three-fourths  to  1^  pounds  each  day.  Cotton-seed  or 
linseed  cake  or  a  combination  of  the  tAvo  usually  forms  one-half  to 
tAvo-thirds  of  the  concentrated  feed.  The  remainder  of  the  grain 
ration  is  oats,  barley,  beans,  peas,  or  corn,  depending  on  market 
])rices.  As  a  rule  not  much  roughage  is  used  in  fattening  lambs 
during  the  fall,  but  those  Avho  do  furnish  such  feed  use  either  cloA^er 
hay  or  straAv  chaff.  The  chief  reliance  is  placed  on  the  use  of  green 
crops  and  roots,  especially  turnips. 


CATTLE,  SHEEP,  AND    H<K}    FKKDINCS    IN    Kl'ROl'E.  7\) 

KAI"lKMX(i   SIIKKI*. 

The  general  tendency  is  to  market  hunbs,  l)iit  a  considerahle 
amount  of  slieej)  feeding'  still  exists  in  all  part^  of  tin-  <ouMtrv. 
Some  of  these  animals  are  natives,  hut  a  considerahl*'  numUT  ronie 
from  Irehmd  and  Scotland,  especially  from  the  Scotch  Ili^lihinds. 
The  fall  and  wintei-  methods  of  fccdin^r  are  nnich  tin*  same  a>  thox' 
l)ractice(l  in  lamh  feedin<;.  Foldin<r  on  irvrvu  crop^  or  on  the  r<M>t 
crops  is  the  <reneral  custom.  In  addition  jrrain  and  cake  arc  ^iven 
to  the  extent  of  frouj  1  to  -J  pounds  jM-r  head  per  day.  In  ^ome 
instances  dried  hrewers"  <rrains  are  fed  w  ith  cake. 

Where  yard  or  shed  feedin<;  is  j)racticed  durin«r  the  winter  the 
ration  usually  consists  of  fi-om  three-fouiths  of  a  pound  to  •_'  pouixl^ 
per  head  per  day  of  clovei-  hay.  mixed  hay  or  straw  chatf.  from  \\i 
to  '20  pounds  of  roots,  ami  from  three-fourths  to  lA  or  possihiy  2 
j)Ounds  of  orain  and  cake.  Some  farmers  fatten  their  slu'ej)  <»n  «rra>s 
alone,  feedintj:  in  addition  cotton-seed  or  linseed  cake,  or  a  comhina- 
tion  of  the  two,  to  the  extent  of  from  1  to  \}>  pounds  per  sheej)  pel" 
day. 

SHEEP  RAISING  IN  SCOTLAND. 

Sheep,  either  as  a  specialty  or  as  an  important  adjunct  of  the  re<ru- 
lar  farming  operations,  are  raised  in  all  parts  of  Scotland.  In  the 
farmin<r  country,  where  the  rent  values  are  from  $.")  to  SI."»  |)er  acre, 
sheej)  are  considered  indispensable,  as  they  not  only  <renerally  ^nve 
handsome  returns  in  nuitton  and  wool  for  the  feed  coiisiniied  and  the 
labor  exi)ended.  but  they  also  increase  the  fertility  of  the  soil.  The 
Scotch  farmer  valiu's  sheep  very  hi<rhly  as  soil  im|)roveis.  .Mthouirh 
use  of  conmiercial  fertilizers  is  vovy  <reneral  in  all  |)aits  of  the  coun- 
try, the  farmer  who  takes  i)ossessi<)n  of  a'worn-out  farm  invaiialtly 
resorts  to  sheei)  feedin<r  as  the  surest  aiul  (luit-kest  method  of  eniich- 
ing  his  land.  On  the  hill  and  mountain  land  sheep  are  <j:rown  in 
lar<re  number-.  "With  hi<rh  and  well-drained  land  the  conditions  in 
Scotland  are  well  suited  to  the  production  of  shee|).  as  many  para-iti<- 
troubles  which  so  often  cause  heavy  lossi's  ainon<jf  the  tlock-  of 
En<rlaiul  are  almost  unknown  in  Scotland.  The  climatic  condition- 
are  favorable  to  the  «rrowin<r  of  roots,  especially  turni|)>.  which  form 
the  basis  of  practically  all  sheej)  feedinir.  The  fall  and  winter 
months  are  <renerally  open  and  permit  the  <rra/.inir  of  tln'  turnip 
crop,  elimimitiufr  :»  <rreat  deal  of  laboi-  in  harvest in«r  and  >avin<r  the 
labor  of  handlintr  the  manui-e. 

Sheep  folded  (m  turnips  are  always  fed  from  ]  to  1 1  pound-  each 

per  day  of  <rrain  and  cake,  this  feedin<r  beiuL^  relied  upon  t(»  enrich 

the  manure.     The  influence  of  sheej)  hu>l)andry  on   the   fei-tility  of 

the  soil  is  gfenerally  reco<rnized  as  of  sutlicient  value  to  compen>ate  for 

r»l.")4 — No.  77 — <>,">  M tj 


80  BUREAU  OF  ANIMAL  INDUSTRY. 

the  labor  expended  and  for  one-third  of  the  total  cost  of  the  grain 
and  cake  fed.  In  some  sections  of  the  country  the  terms  of  the  lease 
entitle  a  farmer  who  is  giving  up  a  farm  to  reimbursement  for  one- 
third  of  the  total  cost  of  all  cake  fed  on  turnip  ground  during  the 
year.  The  influence  of  sheep  feeding  on  the  soil  is  so  great  that 
many  farmers  claim  that  they  can  not  afford  to  be  without  sheep, 
even  if  they  were  to  lose  money  on  the  mutton  and  avooI  produced. 
Two  and  three  year  old  wethers  are  considered  the  most  valuable 
and  in-lamb  ewes  the  least  valuable  to  improve  soil  fertility. 

The  tendency  now  is  to  use  younger  sheep  in  feeding  than  in  former 
years.  The  lambs  grown  on  the  arable  farms  are  nearly  all  marketed 
under  one  year  of  age,  while  in  former  years  they  were  fattened  as 
yearlings  and  two-year-olds.  The  "hill  and  mountain  sheep  are  also 
finding  an  earlier  market.  The  change  in  the  age  of  feeding  sheep 
has  been  brought  about  by  the  demand  of  the  retail  dealers  for  smaller 
carcasses  to  supply  smaller  cuts.  Furthermore,  mutton  from  young 
sheep  can  be  sold  at  once,  as  it  does  not  require  several  weeks  to 
ripen,  as  is  the  case  of  that  from  two  and  three  year  old  wethers, 

FEEDING    PUREBRED    FLOCKS. 

In  the  management  of  purebred  flocks  Scotch  farmers,  as  a  class, 
use  more  simple  methods  than  those  of  England,  and  there  is  not  the 
same  tendency  to  force  young  sheep.  The  lambing  season  is  later, 
both  on  account  of  the  colder  climate  and  because  the  absence  of 
danger  from  parasites  obviates  the  necessity  of  getting  lambs  off  the 
pastures  early;  March  and  April  are  the  usual  months.  In  the 
management  of  breeding  flocks  breeders  give  plenty  of  natural  feed, 
out-of-door  exercise,  and  fresh  air. 

FEEDING    BREEDING    RAMS. 

During  the  breeding  season  most  of  the  breeding  rams  are  allowed 
to  run  with  the  ewes  night  and  day,  and  as  a  rule  they  receive  no  other 
feed  than  that  obtained  in  the  grass  lot.  Young  and  growing  rams 
or  old  thin  ones  are  often  given  some  additional  feed.  The  feed  used 
varies  on  different  farms:  in  some  instances  a  mixture  of  linseed 
cake,  oats,  and  bran  is  given,  while  on  other  farms  oats  alone,  or  oats 
and  cabbage,  are  fed :  about  1  pound  per  head  daily  of  the  grain  mix- 
ture is  fed.  Outside  the  breeding  season  rams  are  fed  moderately. 
During  fall  and  winter  they  are  on  good  pasture  when  the  weather 
is  favorable,  and  are  given  hay  (clover  preferred)  and  turnips  or 
cabbage.  Up  to  the  opening  of  the  breeding  season  rams  are  allowed 
the  run  of  a  grass  lot,  with  no  additional  feed. 


CATTLE,  SHEEP,  AND    HOCJ    FKKI)IN(J    IN    EUROPE.  81 

FEKI)IX(J    ItKKKDINti    E\VF:s. 

In  the  feedinif  of  hrcodiii^  owes  ^(hhI  can'  and  feed  are  ^iven  just 
previous  to  and  at  lanibinf);  time.  Hre«'<lers.  especially  those  who 
breed  Border  Leicesters,  do  not  as  a  rule  flush  their  ewes  to  the  same 
extent  as  En«;lish  hn'eders.  Those  who  handle  tlu'  Down  hn-t'ds  ^ive 
more  attention  to  (iiis  j)oint,  using  meadow  aftermath,  stubble,  <iib- 
baffe.  raj)e,  or  «rrain.  After  the  ewes  are  safe  in  lamb  they  are  not 
given  additional  feed  to  that  obtaine<l  on  pasture  until  the  winter, 
when  the  best  breeders  allow  ewes  the  run  of  a  grass  lot,  feeding  hay 
and  cabbage  or  turui])s  in  addition,  without  grain,  until  two  or  three 
weeks  previous  to  lainl)ing  time. 

Where  early  lambs  are  produced  the  ewes  are  fed  vciy  liberal 
rations  just  befoiv  lambing,  being  given  a  daily  ration  of  clovei-  hay 
to  the  extent  of  li  to  '2  pounds.  turnij)s  14  pounds,  and  from  1  to  li 
pounds  of  a  mixture  of  equal  parts  of  linseed  cake,  crushed  oats,  and 
bran.  In  some  instances  dried  brewers'  grains  ar<'  given  with  lin- 
seed cake  instead  of  oats  and  bran  on  account  of  the  lower  cost.  The 
heaviest  grain  rations  are  always  given  to  the  ewes  with  twin  lambs. 
The  hnnbs  are  also  taught  to  eat  oatmeal  or  rolled  oats,  to  which 
some  linseed  cake  is  added  later  on.  After  grass  has  made  a  good 
start,  neithier  ewes  nor  lambs  are  given  grain  and  cake  until  weaning. 
Ewes  which  lamb  during  the  latter  part  of  March  and  early  in  Aj)ril 
are  usually  given  some  grain  and  cake  for  a  few  weeks,  esj)ecially  if 
the  grass  is  backward  in  growth. 

After  the  Iambs  are  weaned  the  ewes  are  usually  put  on  short  pas- 
ture until  the  flow  of  milk  has  comjiletely  stopped,  and  in  numy 
instances  remain  there  until  the  next  l>reetling  season. 

FEEUINC  THE  LAMBS  AFTEU  WEAN  I  NO. 

The  majority  of  hnnbs  are  weaned  during  August  and  Septemln'r. 
In  some  instances  they  are  allowed  to  r>ni  together  until  the  middle  of 
October,  when  the  rams  and  ewes  are  divided.  On  otln'r  farm-  this 
division  is  made  at  weaning  time.  (Jrain  is  fed  to  all  lambs  regard- 
less of  sex  for  five  or  six  weeks  after  weaning,  so  that  they  may  have 
a  good  start  and  not  lose  the  flesh  made  while  suckling. 

The  following  inethods  prevail  on  the  most  successfid  farms: 
A  breeder  of  Border  Li>icesters  weans  his  lambs  in  August.  After 
weaning  the  lambs  all  run  together  until  the  middle  of  October,  have 
a  irood  irrass  lot.  usuallv  meadow  aftei'uiath.  and  receive  about  one- 
half  pound  each  per  day  of  pats  and  Iinse(»(l  cake.  AVhen  the  ewes 
and  rams  are  separated  the  rams  aiv  put  on  cal)bage  or  turnips  and 
are  carried  in  this  wav  all  winter,  but  the  grain  is  increased  to  1 


82  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

j)ound  or  H  pounds  each  per  day.  When  the  weather  is  open  no  hay 
is  given,  but  in  stormy  weather  or  when  snow  is  on  the  ground  some 
clover  hay  or  mixed  liay  is  fed  each  day.  The  ewe  lambs  are  allowed 
the  run  of  a  grass  lot  all  fall  and  winter  and  have  some  turnips  in 
addition  fed  on  the  grass.  In  some  instances  they  are  folded  on  a  tur- 
nip j)atch  for  a  few  hours  each  day,  but  grain  is  never  given.  This 
breeder  aims  to  have  his  rams  well  forward  as  shearlings  at  sale  time, 
which  is  about  the  first  of  September.  With  the  ewe  lambs  growth 
and  a  robust  constitution  are  the  points  sought  for. 

On  one  of  the  largest  and  most  successful  Shropshire  farms  located 
in  East  Lothian,  near  Edinburgh,  the  manager  weans  his  lambs  dur- 
ing the  first  week  in  August,  when  the  ewes  and  rams  are  separated. 
The  ewes  are  put  on  second-crop  clover  until  turnips  are  ready,  when 
they  are  fed  turnips  on  grass  and  have  some  hay  in  addition  until  the 
following  spring.  The  ram  lambs  are  better  fed.  They  are  grazed 
on  second-growth  clover,  are  fed  cabbages  or  turnips,  and  have  in 
addition  from  one-half  to  a  pound  of  linseed  cake  and  crushed  oats 
each  per  day.  During  cold  and  stormy  weather  they  are  fed  some 
clover  hay. 

PRODUCTION    OF    SHEEP    OX    THE    HILI.S    AND    MOI  NTAIXS. 

In  the  south  and  southeast  of  Scotland  the  Cheviot  is  the  popular 
hill  sheej).  while  in  the  Avestern.  central,  and  northern  portions  of  the 
country  the  hardy  Black-faced  Highland  sheej)  is  used.  They  fur- 
nish the  chief  source  from  which  the  farmers  in  the  arable  districts 
secure  their  feeding  sheep. 

The  mountain  and  hill  sheep  are  bred  and  grown  for  feeders,  and 
the  allowance  of  feed  is  only  sufficient  to  maintain  the  older  animals 
and  furnish  a  rather  scanty  diet  for  growing  ones.  Therefore  the 
sheep  require  consiflerable  time  to  reach  maturity.  In  former  years 
they  were  practically  all  retained  on  the  hills  until  84  years  of  age. 
They  are  now  generally  sold  between  2^  and  3  years  of  age.  Many 
of  them  are  fed  as  lambs  and  are  ready  for  the  l)utcher  before  9 
months  of  age.  and  this  system  is  growing  in  favor,  but  the  great 
majority  are  sent  down  into  the  arable  districts  as  lambs  to  be  win- 
tered, and  are  returned  to  the  hills  with  the  opening  of  spring,  to  be 
sold  as  feeders  the  following  year.  If  it  were  not  for  this  j)ractice, 
yearling  wethers  would  be  fed  generally.  l)ut  the  majority  of  hill 
sheepmen  consider  it  too  soon  to  send  their  sheep  back  in  six  months* 
time,  and  therefore  retain  them  until  24  years  of  age  before  mar- 
keting. 

In  some  instances  the  lambs  sent  to  th^  arable  farms  in  the  fall  are 
not  returned  to  the  hills  the  following  spring,  but  are  either  sold  for 
immediate  feeding  or  are  grazed  during  the  succeeding  winter  and 
summer  to  be  sold  later  as  vearling:  store  wethers. 


CATTLK,  SUKKI',   AND    IKKJ    FKKI>IN(}    IN     KIHOI'K. 


88 


(Iniss,  shrubs,  and  licatluT  furnish  llic  feed  throughout  tho  various 
seasons  of  tho  year.  The  I'wcs  (h<>|)  their  hinihs  al>out  the  lattiM-  pai-t 
of  April  or  early  in  May,  hy  which  time  the  weathei-  is  usually  favor- 
able and  there  is  suflicient  ^rass  to  insure  a  ^ood  supply  of  milk. 
Neithei-  ewes  nor  lambs  ^et  any  other  fe«'d  than  ^rass  throughout  the 
snnnner  and  fall,  and  at  weaninj;  time  the  lambs  are  sent  dowu  to  the 
arable  districts  to  be  wintered,  so  that  they  are  not  eompellefl  to 
endure  the  hai-dships  of  a  IIi«rhland  winter.  All  other  shee|).  as  a 
rule,  are  <:;razed  on  the  hills  and  mountains  throu«rhout  the  entire 
year.  The  average  perio<l  of  usefulness  of  the  ewes  is  about  five 
years.  When  ;">  years  old  they  are  generally  taken  fi-om  the  flock 
and  sent  to  the  arable  districts,  where  tlu'v  ai'e  fattened  or,  what  is 
a  more  common  and  profitable  j)ractice.  bred  to  a  first-class  nnitton 
sire.  In  the  latter  case  they  rear  one  crop  of  lambs.  Both  ewes  and 
lambs  ai"e  fattened  for  the  early  summer  market.  Vounjr  ewes  not 
needed  for  l)ree(lin<j:  purposes  are  sold  in  the  fall  to  feeders  or  t<)  Irish 
hill  farmers,  who  breed  them  to  hijjfh-class  mutton  sires  to  pi'oduce 
feeding  sheep. 

FATTKNIN<;    FOH    MAKKKT. 

The  feeding  of  slieej)  and  lambs  for  mai-ket  is  the  most  im|)ortant 
brancli  of  the  Scotch  slieej)  industi-y.  Tiie  <ifreat  bulk  of  the  work  is 
done  durin<r  the  fall  and  winter.  Many  farmers  feed  at  this  time  of 
the  year  who  do  not  keep  any  sheei)  on  their  farms  thi"ou«^h()ut  the 
ivmainder  of  the  year,  especially  where  very  inten>ive  fai-min<r  j)re- 
vails.  In  such  cases  tlie  sheej)  or  lambs  are  folded  on  the  tui'uip 
fields.  Where  the  land  is  not  so  valual)le  and  I'eiits  are  low.  many 
farmers  keej)  a  lar<re  portion  of  the  land  under  <rrass  and  feed  slu'cj) 
durin«r  si)rin<r  smd  sununei-.  There  are  a  irreat  many  farmers  who 
breed  practically  all  of  their  own  feeders,  but  thes<'  m^'ii  either  havi 
cheap  <ifrazin<r  land  or  they  I'aise  early  lamb--,  which  are  <rrain-fed 
from  the  time  they  will  eat  until  marketed,  and  others  raise  one  crop 
of  lambs  from  cast-ofl'  hill  ewes,  as  alreadv  mentioned. 


rKoDl  <IN(;   I.AM15S    roH    KAIU.V    SIMMKI!    MAIiKKl. 

Tn  certain  i)arts  of  Scotland  considerable  attention  is  <riven  to  the 
production  of  lambs  for  the  early  suinmer  mai-ket.  Those  farmers 
who  aiv  makin<r  a  success  of  this  have  warm  pens  for  the  ewe>  and 
lambs,  and  jjive  the  ewes  very  lilnMal  rations,  and  the  lambs  an*  f«'d 
<rrain  and  cake  as  soon  as  they  will  eat.  The  lamlx  are  dropped  dur- 
in<j  the  latter  part  of  January  and  Februaiy  and  nvv  forced  until 
May  or  June,  when  they  are  marketed.  The  ewes  are  f«'d  from  l\  to 
:1  pounils  each  per  day  of  clover  hay.  from  1-2  to  H'»  pounds  of  tuiiiip-, 
and  from  1  to  If  pounds  of  a  mi.xture  of  wheat  bran,  crushed  oats. 


84  BUREAU  OF  ANIMAL  INDUSTRY. 

and  linseed  cake;  the  larger  allowances  are  fed  to  those  with  twin 
lambs.  The  lambs  are  fed  in  creeps  and  are  given  all  they  will  eat 
of  oatmeal  or  rolled  oats  at  first,  and  later  on  crushed  oats,  cracked 
corn,  and  either  linseed  or  cotton-seed  cake.  Lambs  at  four  weeks 
old  will  eat  about  an  eighth  of  a  pound  each  day,  while  at  three 
months  they  will  take  from  two-thirds  to  1  pound  each.  When  fed 
in  this  manner  they  make  very  rapid  groAvth  and  are  always  well 
fleshed. 

FATTENING    HILL    AND    MOUNTAIN    EWES    AND   LAMBS. 

When  hill  and  mountain  ewes  are  bought  to  be  bred  to  a  mutton 
sire  for  one  crop  of  lambs,  they  are  bred  to  drop  their  lambs  in  March, 
and  during  pregnancy  are  given  the  run  of  grass  or  stubble  land,  with 
some  turnips,  so  as  to  be  in  fair  condition  at  lambing  time.  A  few 
weeks  previous  to  lambing  they  are  fed  oats  and  linseed  cake,  or 
brewers'  grain  and  linseed  cake.  From  lambing  time  they  are  fed 
well  until  marketed,  the  lambs  having  the  same  ration  as  soon  as  they 
are  old  enough  to  eat  it.  Grain  and  cake  is  given  until  grass  is  good, 
but  after  that  time  cake  alone  is  fed,  the  amount  varying  from  one- 
third  to  three-fourths  of  a  pound  per  lamb  per  day,  and  from  three- 
fourths  pound  to  I5  pounds  per  ewe  per  day.  The  lambs  are 
marketed  when  from  three  to  four  months  of  age,  and  if  ready  the 
ewes  go  at  the  same  time,  but  generally  they  require  about  four  weeks 
more  liberal  feeding  on  cake  to  finish  them. 

FATTENING    LAMBS    FOIl    MARKET. 

Lambs  for  fall  and  winter  feeding  are  usually  purchased  in  the 
month  of  September,  or  if  home  bred  are  weaned  at  this  time.  They 
are  first  given  the  run  of  the  stubble  land  for  a  few  weeks  and  are 
gradually  taught  to  eat  turnips,  and  later  are  folded  on  the  turnip 
land.  In  addition,  they  are  fed  cut  hay  and  a  liberal  allowance  of 
grain  and  cake,  largely  cake.  When  the  lambs  are  on  conunon  tur- 
nips many  successful  feeders  feed  cotton  cake  and  dried  brewers" 
grains,  equal  jjarts  by  weight,  to  the  extent  of  from  one-half  to  three- 
fourths  pounds  per  lamb  per  day.  Should  the  roots  be  changed  to 
swede  turnips  the  grain  ration  is  changed  to  2  parts  linseed  cake,  1 
part  cotton-seed  cake,  and  1  part  dried  brewers'  grains.  Swede  tur- 
I'ips  are  thought  by  sheepmen  to  be  more  difficult  to  digest  than  com- 
mon turnips,  and  the  addition  of  linseed  cake  is  supposed  to  assist 
digestion.  The  grain  allowance  is  increased  during  the  finishing 
jK'riod,  and  may  be  changed  to  eliminate  the  brewers'  grains,  but 
cake  is  practically  always  used  as  a  part  of  the  ration.  Some  farmers 
do  not  put  their  lambs  on  the  turnip  land  so  soon,  but  first  graze 
them  for  two  or  three  months. 


CATTLE,  SHEEP,  AND    HOG    FEEDING    IN    EUROPE.  85 

FATTENING    HIIEKP    KOK    MAKKKT. 

The  fall  and  winter  methods  of  fatteniiif^  sIuh^)  are  very  similar 
to  those  deserilKHl  for  lamhs.  They  are  usually  folded  on  r(M>ts  with  a 
«^rain-and-hay  I'ation  in  addition.  I{(M)ts  are  usually  sliced  for  sheep 
which  are  teethin<j:.  The  amount  of  hay  and  j^rain  is  not  larp',  but 
as  much  as  'i;")  pounds  of  roots  per  hea<l  are  fe<l  daily.  Practically 
all  feedin<r  is  done  in  the  open. 

On  li<j:hter  land,  when  a  considei-al)le  amount  is  set  asid**  for  j^raz- 
in«;,  sheej)  are  fed  durin<r  the  sprinj^  and  summer.  Some  farmers 
fatten  their  sheej)  on  <;rass  alone,  but  the  larjre  majority  fee(l  some 
concentrate  in  addition,  cotton  seed  or  linseed  cake  Ix'in*;  jL^en«'rally 
usetl.  Some  <;ood  feeders  use  a  small  amount  of  bran  in  connection 
with  it.  while  others  feed  ecpial  parts  cotton  seed  and  linseed  cake. 
The  amount  varies  from  thi*ee-fouilhs  to  1  j  |)ounds  \)vv  heatl  [)er  day. 

SHEEP  PRODUCTION  IN  IRELAND. 

With  an  abundance  of  <;rass  and  a  temperate  climate,  the  condi- 
tions of  Ireland  are  very  favorable  to  sheep  raisin*;.  For  years  Irish 
farmers  have  <;iven  most  attention  to  the  production  of  sheep  for 
feedin*;  and  the  finishin<>f  of  sheej)  on  <jrass  alone  for  mai'ket.  but 
I'ecently  the  breeding  of  purebred  sheep  and  the  fattenin<r  of  she«'j) 
for  mutton  have  increased,  and  this  has  resulted  in  the  adoption  of 
improved  methods  of  feedin*;. 

FKEI)IN(;    )*l  RP:BRKn    FLOCKS. 

The  methods  of  feedin<i:  purebred  sheep  resemble  those  of  En«rland 
in  some  respects,  but  as  a  ride  fewer  fora<re  crops  are  <rrown  and  a 
much  more  liberal  use  is  made  of  <rrass.  and  smaller  amounts  of  <rrain. 
hay.  and  succulent  feeds  are  uk^i.  Thr()u<jfiiout  a  great  deal  of  the 
country  grass  alone  in  its  season  is  the  Drincipal  feed  for  l)reeding 
sheep. 

TIIK    I'Honi  (TIOX    OF    FF-KUKKS. 

The  i)r()duction  of  feeding  sheep  is  an  important  industry  in 
Ireland.  The  tenant  farmers.  es|)i'cially  in  the  woti'rn  and  southern 
poi'tions.  grow  some  fecMlei-s  each  yeai".  and  although  the  numU'r 
kept  by  each  individual  i>  generally  small  the  total  production  is 
large.  These  sheep  do  not  receive  a  great  deal  of  care.  l)Ut  wlien 
the  i)astures  are  not  too  heavily  stocked  tliey  do  well.  Winter  ft'ed- 
ing  is  not  resorted  to  excejjt  in  tin*  case  of  a  i)rolonged  period  of 
severe  weather,  which  seldom  haj)i)ens. 

In  the  mountains  and  hilly  districts  feeders  are  rai-t'tl  in  a  ratlu'r 
svstematic  nuinner.     Large  numbers  of  HIack-facrd   Iliiihland  ewes 


86  BUREAU  OF  ANIMAL  INDUSTRY. 

aro  annually  purchased  in  Scotland  and  bred  to  hi^h-class  mutton 
sires.  The  Scotch  ewes  drop  their  lambs  about  the  latter  i)art  of 
April  or  the  first  part  of  May,  when  the  weather  is  warm  and  the 
^rass  abundant.  They  run  on  pasture  at  all  seasons  of  the  year,  and 
are  thus  maintained  very  cheaply.  The  feeders  are  generally  sold 
when  1^  3'ears  old. 

FATTENING    SHEEP    FOR    MARKET. 

In  central  Ireland  the  fattening  of  sheep  for  mutton  is  receiving 
considerable  attention.  On  good  land  nothing  but  grass  is  given, 
but  where  the  soil  is  not  so  good  and  the  yield  of  grass  per  acre  less 
some  additional  feed  is  usually  supplied.  The  principles  are  prac- 
tically the  same  as  those  of  English  feeders,  smaller  amounts  usually 
being  fed.  One  very  successful  ration  is  equal  parts  of  cotton-seed 
cake,  linseed  cake,  and  cracked  corn.  The  length  of  the  feeding 
period  varies  from  sixty  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  days,  depending 
on  the  condition  and  age  of  the  sheep  and  the  condition  of  the 
markets. 

THE  SHEEP  INDUSTRY  OF  FRANCE. 

The  sheep  industry  of  France  is  quite  extensively  developed.  The 
Merino,  in  some  form,  is  bred  for  wool,  and  the  British  mutton 
breeds  and  their  crosses  on  Merino  ewes  are  used  for  mutton.  These 
crossbred  sheep  generally  show  a  strong  inclination  toward  the 
Merino  type,  and  in  the  opinion  of  the  leading  French  farmers  this 
quick  reversion  to  the  Merino  type  is  due  largely  to  the  methods  of 
feeding.  When  introduced  into  France,  bred  pure,  and  maintained 
in  small  flocks,  with  plenty  of  green  feed  and  grain,  the  British 
breeds  have  done  equally  as  well  as  in  England,  but  under  more  ad- 
verse conditions  they  seem  very  S'oon  to  lose  those  charactiM'istics 
which  have  won  for  them  so  nuich  praise  in  the  mother  country. 

In  some  parts  of  the  country  sheep  are  given  rather  scanty  rations 
during  the  winter  and  are  pastured  during  the  milder  seasons  of  the 
year.  AVhere  there  are  no  fences  they  are  confined  in  shed^  and 
yards  during  the  growing  season.  Some  farmers  yard  their  sheep 
at  night  and  herd  them  during  the  day.  The  French  farmer^,  as  a 
rule,  do  not  grow  many  special  crops  for  their  sheep.  Clover  and 
alfalfa  hay  and  straw  are  fed  during  the  winter,  with  grain  or  cake 
and  roots  when  available.  The  sj)ring,  sununer.  and  fall  rations 
consist  of  grass,  forage  crops,  cabbage,  and  roots. 

During  the  breeding  season  the  rams  are  allowed  to  run  with  tlie 
ewes  and  subsist  on  the  same  rations,  or  they  are  confined  in  sheds, 
where  the  ewes  are  brought  to  them  for  breeding.  The  latter  method 
prevails  on   the  best  sheep   farms,  especially  those  of  the   French 


CATTLE,  SHEEP,  AND    HOO    FHKDIN(J    IX    KUROPK.  87 

Govcnnnent,  where  UuinlM)iiillets  arc  bred.  When  rains  ?.tan<l  for 
service  thev  arc  fc<l  clover  or  alfalfa  hay.  roots  oi-  cahbufres.  .iikI  a 
liberal  allowance  of  oats,  bran,  and  lins<'c<l  cake 

On  a  lar^e  luiinbcr  of  farms,  especially  thos<'  wIum*'  .Merinos  are 
maintained,  the  ewes  are  bred  dnrin<r  August  or  the  <'arly  part  >>{ 
Sept('inbcr.  durinj;  which  time  they  are  confined  to  their  slu'ds  or 
yards.  No  sjx'cial  feedinjj:  is  done.  Later  in  the  season  when  they 
are  safe  in  lamb  and  the  fields  are  cleared  of  their  crops  they  are 
<;iven  the  run  of  the  jjrass  and  stubble  fields.  Some  farmers  who  are 
breeding  Soiithdowns  follow  the  En<;Iish  methods  more  closely,  and 
provide  roots  and  other  succulent  feed  in  lar^e  (|uantities. 

As  the  lambin<r  season  aj)proaches  all  ewes  are  fed  more  liberally. 
Lambs  are  not  fed  while  sucUlin*;.  except  on  farms  where  the  Knjrlish 
mutton  biveds  are  raised. 

A\'here  <j:rass  is  available  it  is  the  j)rincipal  feed  in  fatt<Miin<^.  Soil- 
ing cro})s  are  also  utilized,  and  in  some  instances  <rrain  and  cake  are 
used  durinjr  the  summer;  small  ^rain  rations  are  the  rule.  Consid- 
erable winter  feedin<2f  is  done,  the  rations  used  bein<r  very  siin|)le. 
Some  feeders  use  a  ration  composed  of  1  to  '2  i)ounds  of  clover  hay 
and  1  to  1;|  pounds  of  a  mixture  of  corn  and  wheat  bran  per  head 
daily.  Other  rations  fed  by  <rood  feeders  aiv  as  follows:  Alfalfa 
hay.  2  ])ounds:  corn.  1  ])oun(l.  and  linseed  cake,  one-half  i)ound  per 
sheep  i)ei-day:  mixed  hay.  U  pounds:  oats,  one-half  pound:  cotton- 
seed cake,  one-half  pound,  and  wheat  bran,  one-half  j)oun(l  pel-  >hee|) 
])er  day.  As  a  rule  the  amount  of  rou<rhii<re  iriven  is  about  11  pounds 
per  sheep  per  day.  while  the  <rrain  ration  varies  from  1  to  2  j)ounds. 


PART  III.-HOGS. 

In  practically  all  P^uropean  countries  considerable  attention  is 
given  to  the  production  of  hogs.  As  a  rule,  farmers  are  not  engaged 
in  the  industry  as  a  specialty.  The  prevailing  custom  is  for  each 
farmer  to  rear  only  enough  pigs  to  utilize  the  waste  of  the  farm,  but 
where  dairy  farming  is  followed  as  the  chief  occupation  pigs  are 
reared  and  fed  in  considerable  numbers  as  an  auxiliary  industry. 
The  two  industries  go  hand  in  hand,  and  to  all  appearances  neither 
one  can  be  so  successfully  conducted  alone  as  the  two  combined, 
especialh'  in  those  countries  which  rank  high  in  the  production  of 
high-class  bacon.  The  real  secret  of  success  in  European  feeding  for 
prime  bacon  is  due  to  the  large  amounts  of  skim  milk  and  buttermilk 
fed  with  grain  and  meal. 

HOG  RAISING  IN  ENGLAND. 

Pigs  are  fattened  for  market  in  many  districts.  Both  the  fat  and 
the  bacon  pig  are  produced,  but  most  attention  is  given  to  the  devel- 
opment of  the  bacon  tyj^e.  In  Wiltshire  the  finest  bacon  in  the  world 
is  i^roduced.  and  very  close  discrimination  on  the  part  of  packers  in 
grading  the  pigs  and  paying  for  them  according  to  quality  has  caused 
the  farmers  in  these  districts  to  use  every  possible  precaution  in 
feeding.  In  the  production  of  fat  or  lard  pigs  much  less  skill  is 
demanded  of  the  feeder.  Although  the  majority  of  farmers  aim  to 
produce  either  one  type  or  the  other,  on  some  faruis  both  types  are 
produced.  The  fat  pig  is  especially  useful  in  utilizing  damaged 
and  cheap  feed  when  skim  milk  is  not  available. 

FEEDING    THE    BROOD    SOW. 

On  the  best  farms  the  sows  are  often  12  months  old  before  being 
bred.  Two  litters  per  year  is  the  prevailing  custom,  and  a  good 
breeder  is  never  discarded  so  long  as  she  continues  to  rear  good 
litters.  The  period  of  usefulness  varies  from  three  to  eight  years. 
The  sows  get  exercise  during  the  summer,  and  feed  from  pasture  or  a 
forage  crop.  Clover  and  alfalfa  are  both  largely  used,  and  many 
farmers  use  vetches  and  oats  or  peas  and  oats.  In  the  milder  parts  of 
the  country  sows  have  exercise  during  winter  on  pasture,  and  in  the 
colder  districts  special  exercising  pens  are  provided  under  cover. 
Raw  or  steamed  mangels,  beets,  or  turnips  are  fed  in  Avinter. 
88 


CATTLE,  SHEEP,  AND    H(X}    FEEDING    IN    Kl'ROPE.  #        89 

Previous  to  farrowing  hnKxl  sows  jiro  fed  moderately.  Any  fat- 
teninff  or  heating  feed  is  eliminated  entirely  from  the  ration  or  fi'd 
in  very  small  (juantities,  and  then  in  conjunetion  with  cooling  feeds, 
such  as  skim  milk  and  hran.  Within  a  week  or  so  of  farrowing  time 
the  principal  part  of  the  ration  is  decreased  and  the  hran  increas«Hl. 
Sometimes  from  4  to  H  oinices  of  P^psoin  salts,  according  to  the  size  of 
the  animal,  are  given  each  sow  ai)out  two  days  l>efore  farrowing. 

During  the  j^uckling  jwriod,  which  varies  from  five  to  seven  weeks, 
the  sows  are  very  liherally  fed.  Rations  of  e(jual  parts  hran,  shorts, 
and  barley  meal,  scalded  and  fed  with  skim  milk,  or  two  parts  hran 
two  parts  middlings,  one  j)ai't  harley  meal,  and  one  j)art  corn  meal, 
soaked  or  steamed  and  fed  with  or  without  skim  milk,  are  in  general 
use.  The  sows  are  always  fed  three  times  per  day  and  in  some 
instances  four  times  per  day.  Skim  milk  and  huttermilk  are  used 
whenever  they  can  be  had. 

The  young  j)igs  are  encouraged  to  eat  at  an  early  age.  When  they 
are  three  weeks  old  some  milk  and  finely  ground  oatmeal  or  shorts 
are  supplied  in  low  troughs  where  they  nuiy  get  at  it. 

FEEDIXC;    THK    UOAR. 

In  feeding  the  boar  the  general  idea  is  to  keep  him  in  fair  flesh 
and  good  health.  Old  boars  are  even  kept  in  tliin  flesh.  Exer- 
cise is  given  careful  attention,  both  for  the  favoraljle  influence 
which  it  exerts  on  the  general  health  and  on  the  condition  of 
the  feet  and  legs.  During  the  summer  the  boar  is  on  pasture,  and 
during  the  winter  he  has  an  open  yard  for  exercise.  The  best  breed- 
ers are  very  strongly  opposed  to  the  us<'  of  any  highly  fattening  feed. 
Corn  is  seldom  used  and  when  fed  is  nearly  always  fed  with  bran, 
oats,  skim  milk,  and  roots,  and  abundant  exercise  is  given.  When 
fed  in  this  manner,  especially  in  cold  weather,  it  is  not  deemed  to  I)e 
injurious  to  the  animal. 

FKEDINC;    YOl  N(;    IM(;S    F(iH    lUtKKOINO    I'lHPOSKS. 

The  young  j)igs  are  inspected  at  an  early  age.  and  thoM*  which 
])romise  to  make  useful  l)ree(ling  animals  are  separated  from  the  i-est 
and  fed  accordingly.  Tht'  ration^  used  are  those  that  will  develop 
bone  and  iiuiscle.  and  skim  nulk  t)r  buttermilk  is  used  by  every 
breeder  who  can  si'cure  it.  specially  during  the  first  four  month- 
of  ih'e  pig's  life.  I^inseed  cake  to  the  extent  of  about  10  per  cent  of 
the  ration  is  fed  by  nuuiy  breedi'rs.  Feed  is  generally  s<^aked  for 
several  hours  before  feeding.  Young  pigs  are  usually  fed  three  oi- 
four  times  per  day. 


90     •  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

FEEDING    PIGS    FOR    BACON. 

Many  things  are  demanded  in  a  good  side  of  bacon.  The  thick- 
ness of  fat  on  the  back  must  not  be  too  deep  and  must  be  uniform  in 
all  parts;  the  fat  must  not  be  oily  or  yellow  in  color,  but  must  be  a 
clear,  bright  white;  the  flesh  must  be  firm,  and  the  pigs  should  be 
uniform  in  size  to  insure  uniformity  of  curing.  These  results  are 
(mly  obtained  when  uniformity,  care,  and  good  judgment  are  used 
in  compounding  rations  and  feeding  them.  Considerable  latitude  is 
permissible  in  the  selection  of  feed,  but  the  use  of  an  undesirable  one, 
even  when  combined  with  others  which  in  themselves  are  very  desir- 
able, may  depreciate  the  quality  of  what  would  otherwise  become  a 
very  good  carcass. 

The  writer  is  inclined  to  believe  that  pounds  of  gain  in  the  bacon 
pig  can  not  be  produced  as  economically  as  in  the  case  of  the  fat  or 
lard  hog.  This  is  due  to  the  fact  that  a  much  more  limited  range  of 
feed  can  be  used  with  safety  in  feeding  the  bacon  pig,  and  some  of 
the  best  feeds  for  the  production  of  heavy  gains,  such  as  corn,  must 
be  fed  with  great  care.  Practically  all  the  best  bacon  producers  lay 
a  great  deal  of  stress  on  the  use  of  dairy  by-products.  From  the 
standpoint  of  quality  of  the  bacon  produced  no  rations  have  proved 
more  satisfactory  than  barley  meal  and  skim  milk ;  shorts  and  skim 
milk;  equal  parts  barley  meal  and  shorts  with  skim  milk:  or  equal 
parts  ground  peas,  ground  barley,  and  shorts  with  skim  milk.  All 
of  these  rations  have  produced  good  firm  bacon,  white  in  color  and 
free  from  oil  or  flabbiness.  Some  feeders  use  equal  parts  ground 
barley  and  corn  meal  with  skim  milk  or  whey.  This  ration  is  said 
to  produce  heavier  and  more  economical  gains,  but  the  quality  of  the 
j^roduct  is  inferior. 

On  some  farms  bacon  pigs  are  grown  as  stores  for  four  or  five 
months,  during  which  time  they  are  on  grass  or  forage  croj^s  and  are 
fed  grain  rather  lightly.  They  are  then  confined  to  the  pens  for 
al)out  three  months  and  are  fed  liberally.  A  great  many  successful 
farmers  have  their  pigs  ready  for  market  at  about  (>  months  old, 
which  can  be  done  to  good  advantage  where  skim  milk  is  available. 

FEEDING    FAT    OH    LAKD    IIOGS. 

The  farmers  in  all  parts  of  England  feed  a  considerable  number  of 
pigs  to  supply  the  demand  for  hogs  for  lard  or  sausage.  They  do  not 
require  so  much  skill  in  feeding  as  bacon  pigs.  Most  of  these  pigs 
are  marketed  between  the  ages  of  8  and  12  months,  but  there  is  always 
a  demand,  especially  at  Christmas  time,  for  a  limited  number  of 
heavy  pigs.  Amount  of  grain  and  economy  of  production  are  the 
two  points  which  receive  consideration. 


CATTLE,  SHEEP,  AM)    IKKJ    FEKI)IX<;    IN    EUROPE.  *.U 

HOG  FEEDING  IN  IRELAND. 

Tho  larger  farnicrs  in  Irclaiul  arc  all  nion-  or  less  rnpi^cd  in  the 
prodnctioii  of  pijrs,  l)iit  the  iiuliistiy  particulai-ly  occupies  tin-  atten- 
tion of  the  small  tenant  farmers.  In  some  respects  the  conditions  are 
very  favorable  for  the  successful  production  of  swine,  as  dairy  farm- 
ing is  so  «i:enerally  carried  on  that  skim  milk  and  l)uttermilk  can  ix' 
obtained  on  almost  every  farm.  Wow  it  not  for  the  fact  that  such  a 
large  percentage  of  the  country  is  in  grass  and  that  grain  is  not 
grown  in  large  (piantities,  pigs  would  Im'  j)roduced  in  much  larger 
numbers. 

The  bacon  type  is  the  oidy  on»'  raised,  and  the  Ii-ish  farm<'rs  have 
been  very  successful,  as  they  produce  some  of  the  best  bacon  in  the 
world.  With  so  many  small  farmers,  each  working  indej)endently, 
it  is  a  rather  diliicult  matter  to  control  the  (piality  of  the  product,  and 
bacon  curers  find  it  difficult  to  secure  miiform  (piality.  However, 
methods  of  feeding  are  improving  as  a  result  of  the  work  being  done 
by  the  experts  of  the  department  of  agriculture  and  technical  Instruc- 
tion for  Ireland.  These  experts  ai'e  advising  the  us<'  of  feed  which 
can  be  profitably  combined  with  those  available  on  the  farm.  The 
pigs  are  ready  for  market  at  from  (>  to  H  months  of  ag*',  when  they 
weigh  in  the  m'ighborhood  of  '200  pounds. 

FEEDING    HKEEl)IN(i    IIOCS. 

On  the  best-managed  farms  breeding  animals  are  very  well  fed  and 
cared  for,  but  on  many  of  the  smaller  farms  the  methods  are  very 
crude.  An  impetus  has  been  given  to  better  breeding  by  means  of 
a  j)lan  whereby  $2;")  premiums  are  awarded  by  the  department  of 
agriculture  to  good  boars  owned  by  farmers  who  are  willing  to  allow 
the  small  tenant  farmers  the  use  of  such  animals  at  very  low  service 
fees,  fixed  by  the  department. 

The  l)est  breeders  allow  their  sows  a  considerable  amount  of  exer- 
cisi'  during  the  period  of  gestation  to  insure  a  strong  healthy  litter. 
Two  litters  are  usually  raised  eacU  year  from  each  sow.  and  lil)>'iMl 
rations  are  necessary.  During  the  first  half  of  gestation  sows  have 
pasture  and  a  light  ration  of  grain  and  cooked  ))otatoes,  after  which 
time  feeding  is  more  liberal  and  skim  milk  is  added.  At  fari'owinir 
and  afterwards  the  management  is  similar  to  that  of  Knglish  l)iveder.-. 
with  the  exception  of  the  j)<)tat<H's. 

Boars  are  given  abundant  exercise  and  ke|)t  in  moderate  tle-h. 
Their  management  as  well  as  that  of  young  i)igs  is  similar  to  the 
English  method. 

FEEi)ix(;  ru;s  for  UAiox. 

The  exi)erts  from  the  Irish  department  of  agriculture  an'  advo- 
cating the  use  of  a  ration  composed  of  cooked  potat(H*s.  ecjual  parts 


92  BUREAU  OF  ANIMAL,  INDUSTRY. 

shorts,  ground  barley,  and  corn  meal  to  be  fed  with  skim  milk  or 
buttermilk.  They  also  recommend  the  feeding  of  some  crushed  oats 
during  the  last  three  or  four  weeks  to  whiten  the  fat  and  make  the 
flesh  firm.  As  a  rule  the  pigs  are  fed  three  times  a  day  and  receive 
steamed  feed  during  cold  weather.  Although  some  exercise  is 
allowed  during  early  life,  the  prevailing  custom  is  to  restrict  it  dur- 
ing the  last  two  months. 

HOG  FEEDING  IN  DENMARK. 

In  no  other  European  coinitry  has  such  a  close  study  been  made  of 
pig  production  as  in  Denmark,  and  in  no  other  country  in  the  world 
has  such  uniformity  of  product  been  obtained.  During  the  past 
seventeen  years  the  Danish  pig  breeders  have  devoted  their  entire 
attention  to  the  production  of  bacon.  During  that  time  they  hav^e 
captured  the  British  bacon  market  by  their  careful  methods  of 
breeding  and  feeding  and  the  quality  of  the  bacon  produced,  and  since 
1888,  the 'year  when  imports  of  Danish  bacon  were  first  reported  by 
the  British  Government,  they  have  received  a  considerably  higher 
average  price  for  their  total  output  than  any  other  country  exporting 
bacon  to  Great  Britain  whose  trade  is  enumerated  in  the  official  re- 
ports. All  of  their  export  bacon  is  sent  to  the  British  markets,  and 
the  trade  has  increased  in  this  time  from  less  than  $7,000,000  to  more 
than  $18,000,000  annually. 

These  results  are  all  the  more  striking  when  we  bear  in  mind  that 
less  than  twenty  years  ago  the  Danes  were  sending  practically  all  of 
their  hog  products  to  Germany,  Holland,  Belgium,  and  France,  coun- 
tries which  demand  the  fat  tyj^e  of  pig.  Although  these  markets 
furnished  a  fairly  remunerative  outlet  for  a  time,  the  business  was 
unprofitable,  and  Denmark  decided  to  enter  new  markets,  which 
demanded  and  paid  for  special  products.  The  British  markets  were 
paying  fancy  prices  for  high-class  bacon,  especially  that  coming  from 
Ireland,  and  the  Danes  saAv  a  new  opening  for  them,  but  they  realized 
that  in  order  to  secure  this  trade  it  would  be  necessary  to  produce 
liacon  equal  to  or  better  in  quality  than  that  from  Ireland.  Ahvays 
willing  to  profit  by  the  experiences  of  others,  the  Danish  Government 
sent  special  ex])erts  to  Ireland  to  study  the  methods  of  breeding  and 
feeding  the  pigs  from  which  this  superior  bacon  Avas  made.  These 
experts  had  instructions  to  remain  abroad  until  the  desired  informa- 
tion was  obtained.  They  were  successful,  and  since  then  the  Danes 
have  not  only  adopted  Irish  methods,  but  have  improved  upon  them 
to  such  an  extent  that  it  is  the  Danish  and  not  the  Irish  brand  of 
bacon  that  now  conunands  the  highest  prices  on  the  British  markets, 
notwithstanding  the  fact  that  Ireland  has  sent  three  special  commis- 
sions to  Denmark  during  the  past  ten  years  to  ascertain,  if  possible, 
how    it   is   accomplished.     The   chief   advantage   which   the   Danish 


CATTLE,  SHEEP,  AND    HOG    FEEDING    IN    EUROPE.  93 

bacon  lias  over  lliat  coiuiii^  from  other  countries  is  its  uniform  qual- 
ity. While  in  London  the  writer  visited  the  Smithfield  market  and 
was  shown  there  sides  of  bacon  from  various  countries.  .\Ith<)n«/h 
in  some  instances  better  sides  coidd  1h>  found  in  the  i)acon  from  other 
(•(umlries,  in  no  instance  did  the  product  from  any  other  country 
exhibit  such  a  marked  uniformity  of  (juality  an<l  finish  as  that  from 
Denmark,  and  it  was  unmistakably  evident  that  very  uniform 
methods  are  followed  by  the  farmers  of  Dennuirk.  The  spirit  of  the 
j)(M)ple  has  a  favorable  influence  in  this,  as  in  other  lines  of  work. 
In  Ireland  there  is  a  marked  tendency  for  each  farm<'r  to  work  for  his 
own  interests  repirdless  of  results,  but  in  Denmark  the  cooperative 
spirit  i^revails. 

Another  factor  which  is  also  resi)()nsible  for  the  uniformity  of  the 
product  is  that  dairy  farming  l)revails  in  all  parts  of  the  country, 
and  each  farmer  has  a  re<rular  suj)ply  of  skim  milk  and  buttermilk 
for  his  pi^s:  these  products  are.  moi-eover.  j)asteurize(l  Ix'fore  leav- 
in<;  the  creamery. 

The  prevailing  custom  is  to  confine  in  small  pens  all  pigrs  intended 
for  slaugfhter.  Some  exercise  is  (riven  breedin<r  stock.  esp<'cially 
brood  sows,  but  even  Avith  them  it  is  limited  when  coinj)ared  with 
that  ^iven  in  other  countries. 

FKKI)IN(;    IiHP:KI)INO    HOGS. 

Youn^  pigs  intended  for  breeding  ))urposes  receive  somewhat 
better  rations  than  older  ones,  but  as  all  pigs  intended  for  bacon 
must  be  carefully  fed  the  breeding  animals  have  to  utilize  kitchen 
refuse  and  other  forms  of  cheap  feed.  Vp  to  within  six  weeks  of 
farrowing  the  brood  sows  are  maintained  on  kitchen  refuse,  with 
some  wheat  bran,  shorts,  or  crushed  oats,  a  few  roots  in  winter,  and 
the  run  of  a  small  grass  lot  in  summer.  In  fact,  almost  any  combina- 
tion of  feed  which  is  economical  and  will  keep  the  sow  in  a  healthy 
condition  is  used.  During  the  last  six  weeks  of  pregnancy  the 
regular  ration  is  increasetl  somewhat  and  some  ground  barley  given. 
This  gets  the  sow  in  fairly  good  flesh  1)V  the  time  she  has  to  suckle 
the  litter.  For  a  few  days  previous  to  farrowing  the  bran  i>  in- 
creased and  the  other  feed  decivased.  The  ration  is  fed  in  the  form 
of  a  thin  slop.  The  feed  is  the  same  for  about  three  days  after  far- 
rowing. Then  the  sow  is  fed  very  liberally  on  grain  and  dairy  by- 
products. The  grain  or  meal  is  usually  soaked  for  >ev«'i-al  hours  in 
water  and  the  milk  is  mixed  in  at  feeding  time.  In  cold  weather 
numy  farmers  warm  the  feed.  The  majority  of  farmers  feed  three 
times  per  day.  The  pigs  are  allowed  to  suckle  from  four  to  seven 
weeks  and  are  always  taught  to  eat  by  the  time  they  are  three  weeks 
old. 


94  BUREAU  OF  ANIMAL  INDUSTRY. 

Individual  farmers,  unless  rearing  pigs  on  a  very  extensive  scale, 
do  not  keep  boars  of  their  own.  The  boars  are  practically  all  owned 
by  pig-breeding  societies,  which  keep  them  at  their  different  stations, 
where  the  farmers  may  have  the  use  of  them  at  reasonable  fees.  This 
not  only  saves  the  expense  of  maintaining  a  boar,  but  it  enables  each 
farmer  to  select  those  boars  best  suited  to  his  individual  sows,  and  the 
litters  are  more  uniform  and  of  better  type.  These  boars  are  well 
fed.  but  not  in  such  a  manner  as  to  interfere  with  their  usefulness. 
No  feeds  are  used  which  have  a  tendency  to  produce  obesity  or  a 
heated  condition  of  the  system,  and  succulent  feed  is  usually  supplied. 
Young  pigs  intended  for  breeding  purposes  are  fed  for  bone  and 
muscle.  Succulent  feed  is  usually  given  in  small  quantities,  and  in 
addition  they  receive  a  liberal  allowance  of  skim  milk  or  buttermilk 
and  grain. 

TEEDIXG    PIGS    FOR    BACON. 

As  a  rule  pigs  are  marketed  at  about  6  or  7  months  of  age.  when 
they  weigh  from  160  to  '200  pounds,  live  weight.  The  Danish  buyer 
demands  pigs  which  are  uniform  in  size,  with  an  even  thickness  of  fat 
on  the  back,  which  should  be  about  three-fourths  to  1  inch  in  depth. 
The  fat  should  be  clear  white  in  color,  thf^  flesh  firm  in  all  parts,  and 
there  should  be  a  high  percentage  of  lean  in  proportion  to  the  fat. 

Any  method  of  feeding  which  is  undesirable  will  cause  discrimina- 
tion on  the  part  of  the  buyers,  and.  through  the  existence  of  the  co- 
operative bacon  factories,  which  are  owned  by  the  farmers  them- 
selves, feeders  are  in  very  close  touch  Avith  the  work.  They  have  an 
excellent  opportunity  to  follow  their  pigs  through  the  slaughter- 
houses and  have  the  faults  in  the  carcasses  j^ointed  out  by  experts. 
In  this  manner  farmers  have  learned  many  valuable  lessons,  so  that 
they  are  very  well  versed  in  the  influence  of  different  feeds  and 
rations  on  the  quality  of  the  carcass.  The  seller  is  entitled  to  a  report 
on  each  lot  of  pigs  marketed,  and  if  he  has  made  any  changes  from 
the  rations  previously  used  he  can  ascertain  whether  or  not  they  are 
desirable. 

The  following  rations  are  used  by  successful  feeders:  Ground 
barley,  cooked  potatoes,  and  skim  milk:  shorts  and  skim  milk:  •! 
parts  shorts,  2  parts  ground  barley,  1  part  corn  meal,  and  skim  milk: 
2  parts  ground  barley.  1  part  wheat  bran,  1  part  ground  rye.  and  skim 
milk:  2  jiarts  ground  barley.  1  part  ground  oats.  1  part  corn  meal, 
and  skim  milk.  Corn  meal  is  fed  with  care,  especially  during 
warm  weather:  when  fed  in  small  quantities  with  barley,  shorts, 
oats,  and  bran,  combined  with  a  liberal  alloAvance  of  skim  milk, 
there  are  no  bad  residts.  Some  good  feeders  use  corn  meal  to  the 
extent  of  one-third  or  one-half  of  the  irrain  ration  duririir  the  first 


CATTLE,  SHEEP,  AND    HOG   FEEDING    IN    EUBOPE.  95 

three  or  four  months  and  then  omit  it  and  finish  with  oats  or  similar 
feed.  Ft»(?ch'rs  are  sometimes  compelled  to  use  corn  on  account  of 
the  low  price  of  bacon.  (Jround  rye  to  the  extent  of  al>out  one-third 
of  the  ration  ^ives  ^ood  results,  but  rve  shorts  arc  not  satisfactory 
and  are  only  used  in  small  quantities.  The  Ix'st  fetnls  are  ground 
barley,  crushed  oats,  and  wheat  shorts.  U(M)ts  are  fed  during  winter 
and  soilinfj  crops  durin^j  summer. 

METHODS  OF  FEEDING  IN  AUSTRIA-HTJNOABY. 

The  greatest  amount  of  hog  raising  in  the  Austrian  Enipire  is  in 
southern  Hungary,  where  the  conditions  are  es|)ecially  advantageous. 
Dairy  farming  prevails  in  practically  all  the  arable  sections,  and  the 
by-products  are  used  extensively  in  [)ig  feeding.  Barley  is  the  prin- 
cipal grain  fed;  corn  shorts,  bran,  and  milling  by-products  are  used 
to  some  extent.  Oats  are  seldom  fed  except  to  breeding  animals. 
Cooked  potatoes  are  very  generally  used  and  are  very  highly  recom- 
mended, especially  when  fed  with  barley  and  skim  milk.  (Jra.ss  and 
forage  crops  are  not  used  much  for  fattening. 

Pigs  intended  for  market  are  well  fed  from  the  time  they  are  old 
enough  to  eat,  so  that  they  will  weigh  200  pounds  at  fi  months  or  from 
300  to  350  pounds  at  10  months. 

FEEDING    BREEDING    IIOGS. 

Mature  animals  are  fed  sparingly,  but  growing  ones  are  given 
liberal  rations.  Pasture  crops,  especially  the  legumes,  are  us<h1  very 
extensively  during  their  season.  In  summer  very  little  feed  other 
than  pasture  is  given  to  brood  sows  during  the  first  half  of  the  gesta- 
tion period.  During  the  winter  they  have  beets  or  mangels,  either 
raw  or  cooked.  After  this  time  wheat  bran,  shorts,  mill  stutfs,  and 
oats  are  fed,  the  amount  being  small  at  first,  but  gradually  increased. 
The  meal  is  decreased  for  a  week  or  so  Ix^fore  farrowing,  and  is  given 
in  a  thin,  warm  slop.  This  feeding  is  continued  for  a  few  days 
after  farrowing.  As  soon  as  the  sow  has  recovered  she  is  fed  liberally 
on  skim  milk  and  grain;  cooked  potatoes  and  corn  meal  are  fed. 

The  pigs  begin  to  eat  skim  milk  and  shorts  or  sifted  barley  meal 
when  they  are  about  three  weeks  old. 

FEEDING    PIGS    FOR    MARKET. 

The  Yorkshire  has  been  extensively  introduced  and  the  bacon  type 

of  pig  is  bred  in  large  numbers,  but  the  same  care  is  not  observed  in 

feeding  as  in  Denmark.     The  people  demand  both  bacon  and  sausage. 

and  pigs  which  do  not  answer  one  purpose  may  be  utilized  for  the 

5154— No.  77—05  M 7 


96  BUREAU   OF   ANIMAL.   INDUSTRY. 

other.  This  simplifies  feeding  very  materially.  The  market  price 
of  a  feed  and  its  efficiency  to  make  gain  are  given  more  consideration 
than  its  influence  on  the  quality  of  the  carcass. 

The  following  are  representative  rations:  Ground  barley  2  parts, 
shorts  1  part,  mill  stuffs  1  part,  and  skim  milk;  ground  barley  and 
corn  meal,  equal  parts,  and  whey;  corn  meal,  ground  wheat,  and 
crushed  oats,  equal  parts,  skim  milk,  and  cooked  potatoes.  Some 
feeders  steam  or  cook  their  feed  at  all  seasons  of  the  year.  Those 
who  do  not  steam  the  feed  invariably  soak  it  for  several  hours  in 
water  or  whey.  Skim  milk  is  usually  given  after  the  principal  part 
of  the  grain  is  eaten. 

THE  HOG  INDUSTBY  OF  GERMANY. 

Like  other  live-stock  interests,  the  hog  industry  of  Germany  is 
somewhat  limited  and  the  home  production  does  not  meet  the  demand. 
All  farmers  raise  a  few  pigs  each  year  for  their  own  use,  but  only  a 
few  make  the  business  a  specialty.  AVhen  this  is  done,  the  methods 
of  feeding  are  as  good  as  those  in  England. 

Dairy  by-products  are  very  generally  used  and  potatoes  and  roots 
are  fed  in  winter.  Nearly  all  feeders  soak  meal  before  feeding  and 
a  great  many  strain  it. 

FEEDING   BREEDING    HOGS. 

During  the  first  half  of  gestation  dry  sows  on  grass  do  not  have 
much  pdditional  feed;  kitchen  refuse  may  be  all  that  is  fed.  After 
this  time  the  methods  of  feeding  are  practically  the  same  as  those 
described  for  Austria-Hungary. 

Breeding  boars  are  fed  green  feed  in  summer  and  roots  in  winter, 
with  grain,  and  are  not  allowed  to  become  excessively  fat.  Young 
boars  have  skim  milk  as  well  and  are  never  forced.  They  are  usually 
fed  four  times  daily  until  3  months  old. 

Breeding  pigs  usually  have  the  run  of  a  small  grass  lot. 

FATTENING  RATIONS. 

Some  farmers  endeavor  to  have  their  pigs  ready  for  market  at  G 
months  old.  when  they  weigh  about  200  pounds  each.  Others  grow 
their  pigs  for  about  eight  months  and  then  fatten  them  for  two  nnd 
a  half  to  four  months,  marketing  them  at  300  to  400  pounds.  Those 
who  finish  at  the  younger  age  feed  very  liberally  from  the  time  the 
pigs  begin  to  eat,  and  dairy  by-products  are  always  used  if  available. 
The  rations  generally  contain  ground  barley  and  shorts  during  the 
first  few  months,  corn  meal,  ground  rve,  ground  wheat,  or  cooked 


CATTLE,  SHEEP,  AND   HOG    FEEDING   IN    EUROPE.  97 

potatoes  usually  being  addeil  during  the  last  month  or  six  we<*ks. 
In  the  latter  case  kitchen  n'fnse  and  dairy  hv-prodiicts  are  used  Iwfore 
fattening  Iwgins,  and  very  little  grain  is  fed.  When  the  fattening 
period  arrives  they  are  fed  very  heavy  rations. 

Tlu'  following  rations  are  reprcs<'ntative:  Kqual  parts  ground 
barley  and  corn  meal,  with  cooked  j)otat(K*s  and  a  little  skim  milk  at 
the  finish;  e<iual  j)arts  ground  barley,  ground  rye,  and  corn  ujeal : 
ground  barley  2  parts,  ground  wluyit  1  part,  ground  rye  1  part.  In 
some  instances  cooked  roots  are  given. 

Those  ftH>ds  which  will  j)roduce  the  greatest  gains  at  the  lov^est 
cost  are  preferred,  as  it  is  the  weight  of  the  pig  rather  than  the 
quality  of  the  flesh  which  determines  its  market  value.  F'att»^ning 
pigs  are  generally  confined  in  small  pens,  especially  during  the  fin- 
ishing period. 

HOG  RAISING  IN  FRANCE. 

Although  most  French  farmers  raise  only  enough  hogs  for  family 
use  and  few  for  sale,  in  certain  districts  the  industry  is  <}uite  impor- 
tant. The  conditions  are  very  fa'vorable,  as  barley  is  grown  in  all 
parts  of  the  country  and  corn  is  produced  in  the  warmer  portions. 
Dairy  farming  is  also  very  general  in  the  northern  and  central  por- 
tions and  the  by-products  are  available  for  feeding  pigs. 

FEED  IXC.    nKEEDlN(i    IIOGS. 

Breeding  animals  are  fed  along  similar  lines  to  those  of  the  l)est 
English  breeders.  (Irasses,  legumes,  and  other  forage  crops  are 
especially  utilized.  Up  to  within  a  few  weeks  of  farrowing  time 
brood  sows  receive  little  or  no  grain,  being  maintained  almost  entirely 
on  green  crops,  dairy  by-products,  and  kitchen  slojis.  During  the  last 
six  weeks  of  gestation  they  receive  crushed  oats  and  shorts,  or  ground 
barley,  fed  as  a  slop.  This  is  continued  uj)  to  the  last  week,  when  the 
grain  is  reduced  and  bran  or  shorts,  mixed  with  water  to  form  a  thin 
slop,  is  given.  At  this  time  numy  farmers  give  from  3  to  O  ounces 
of  Epsom  salts  in  the  feed.  After  farrowing  the  light  rations  are 
continued  for  about  four  days.  Young  pigs  intendetl  for  breeding 
purj)oses  are  fed  on  dairy  by-products,  succulent  feed,  and  grain. 
The  development  of  bone  in  these  aninu\ls  is  given  much  attention, 
shorts  or  skim  milk  being  fed  with  corn.  Some  breeders  attain 
the  same  results  with  alfalfa  and  clover,  but  skim  milk  is  preferred 
to  overcome  the  objectionable  feature  of  corn  for  young  pigs. 


98  BUBEAU   OF   ANIMAL   INDUSTRY. 

FATTENING   RATIONS. 

Some  farmers  grow  their  pigs  slowly  for  several  months,  and  then 
fatten  them  quickly.  This  prevails  among  the  small  farmers,  many 
of  whom  use  no  grain  except  during  the  last  two  months,  the  pigs 
heing  grown  on  dairy  by-products  and  kitchen  slops. 

Those  who  make  pig  raising  more  of  a  specialty  force  them  as 
rapidly  as  possible  from  the  start.  No  special  effort  is  made  to  pro- 
duce high-grade  bacon,  and  the  feeds  used  are  those  which  will  give 
heavy  gains.  The  most  desirable  market  weight  appears  to  be  300 
pounds,  and  on  many  farms  it  is  reached  at  the  age  of  8  to  10  months. 
A  representative  forcing  ration  is  one  of  2  parts  ground  barley,  1 
part  wheat  shorts,  and  skim  milk  or  buttermilk  until  the  pigs  are  6 
months  old,  after  which  corn  meal  and  cooked  potatoes  take  the  place 
of  the  shorts.  The  meal  is  usually  steamed  in  winter  and  soaked  in 
summer.  Potatoes  are  always  cooked.  Some  feeders  use  gluten  feed 
with  barley  meal  and  skim  milk  when  forcing  young  pigs.  Arti- 
chokes are  used  extensively  for  fattening  and  are  grazed. 


o 


001  120  182 


(Concluded  from  pngo  2  of  cover.) 


Dr.  F.  D.  Kctchum,  Sontli  8t.  Paul.  Minn. 

l)r  \V    H   Lincoln,  tare  Tt-nnesMco  Fucking  und 

'II  Co.,  Na«hvillc,  Tt-nn. 

UK,  citre  Kpcrry  &  Barnwi,  New  Haven, 

Ur.  t'.  L.<ivcb(>rr>-,  room  402,  custom-house  (new), 

I'ortliind.  oa-jf. 
Dr.  a.  I>  .Miiviic,  Malone, N.  V. 
I       ;        -  M.t.sker,  room  22,  N.  T.  Annijo  Huild- 

iiui|iic'r<|Uo,  N.  Mex. 
i  :    I    M  litf,  curt*  John  Morrell  &  Co.,  Ottumwa, 

lowu. 
Dr.  C.  L.  Morin,  St.  Albans,  Vt. 
Dr.  A.  B.   Morso,  care   The  Agar  Packing  Co., 

Dc*  Moines,  Iowa. 
l»r  \V  .1.  Murphy,  care  Springfield  Provision  Co., 

HriKhtwootI,  Mu.<<i). 
Dr.  W.  N.  Neil,  care  John  Cndaliy  Co.,  Wichita, 

Kanii. 
Dr.  V.  A.  Niirgaard,  Honolulu,  Hawaii. 
Dr.  K.  M.  I'erry,  Fort  Fairlield,  Me. 
Dr.  (t.  \V.    Pope.    Animal   Quarantine  Station, 

Athenia,  N.  J. 
Dr.  H.  T.  Potter,  Calais,  Me. 
Dr.  J.  O.  F.  Price,  care  Brituiin  &  Co.,  MaiBhall- 

town.  Iowa. 
Dr.  K.  A.  Kamsay,  Fargo,  N.  Dak. 


Dr.  A.  G.  G.  Richardson,  707  Empire  Kuilding, 

Knoxville,  Tenn. 
Dr.  A.  R.  Rlshel,  cfcre  Cudahy  Packing  Co.,  Los 

Angeles,  (.'al. 
Dr.  W.  II.  Row;.  IH  Broadway,  New  Vork,  N.  Y. 
Dr.  F.  L.  itu.->iell.  Oroiio,  ,Me. 
Dr.  J.  F.  Ryder.  HI  Milk  street,  Boston.  Maw. 
Dr.  K.  P.  Hchaffter,  (uire  Cleveland  Provialon  Co., 

(Meveland,  Ohio. 
Dr.  C.  A.Schauflcr,  134  South  Second  Street,  Phila- 
delphia, Pa. 
Dr.  Ttios.  W.  .Scott,  care  The  R*ith  Packitig  Co., 

Waterloo,  Iowa. 
Dr.  T.  A.  Shipley,  care  T.M.SlnclairA  Co.  (Ltd.), 

Ce<lar  Rapid.s,  Iowa. 
Dr.  N.  C.  SorenBen,  care  Kingan  &  Co.,  Indian- 

ai>oli.s,  Ind. 
Mr.  Wni.  H.  Wade,  Animal  Quarantine  Station, 

Halethorp,  Md. 
Dr.  H.  N.  Waller,  109  West  Forty-second  street. 

New  York,  N.  Y. 
Dr.  Q.  W.  Ward,  Newport,  Vt. 
Dr.  B.  P.  Wende,  Live  Stock  Exchange  Building, 

East  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 
Dr.  W.  H.  Wray,  34  Streatham  Hill,  London,  8. 

W.,  England. 


